The First ‘White Lotus' Spin-Off Should Definitely Happen After Season 3
The White Lotus
The White Lotus season 3 aired its finale this past weekend, which was ultimately divisive and one I personally did not love.
One of the main issues was the resolution, or lack thereof, of the Ratliff storyline, where Timothy heads back to the US where he's about to be under investigation by the FBI for business illegalities. This entire season he's been popping Lorazepam and fantasizing about how he might kill his family and himself to save them the pain and embarrassment.
He almost does so via deadly piña coladas, but changes his mind, though in the process almost accidentally kills his youngest son, Lochlan, who survives the poisoning without realizing his father did in fact poison him. The family finds out what's going on back in the US at last by finally looking at their phones after a week without them. That's it. We see no aftermath.
We should see the aftermath.
I have not seen a storyline in The White Lotus before that would justify a spin-off quite like this. If Lochlan had died, it wouldn't work, but the entire Ratliff family dealing with Timothy's crimes and 'being poor' back in the US would make for a great series.
In a sense we…already had this show in the form of Schitt's Creek, a rich family forced to adapt to a humble life in a small town. Amazing series, but obviously it would be a lot different in tone coming from the White Lotus universe.
The White Lotus
This would allow the return of what were arguably the two best characters in the series, Victoria Ratliff and Saxon Ratliff, played by Parker Posey and Patrick Schwarzenegger (yes, that one). Posey was easily the funniest character in a season that wasn't funny enough, and Schwarzenegger was a rare character who actually underwent significant character development by the end.
Will this happen? Odds are against it. Every single episode of The White Lotus is written and directed by Mike White. So either he would have to give up control of a spin-off to someone else (which could also affect its quality) or if he did it himself, it would significantly delay the already-greenlit fourth season which is about to start production, likely in Europe.
There is the fact that White has not ruled out a spin-off in the past, namely a prequel focused on the now-dead character of Jennifer Coolidge's Tanya. Here's what he said to Deadline back in 2023:
'I absolutely think that's possible, we were just talking about that… It's a funny idea. And making Jennifer, you know, 20 years younger, that would be fun too. I think Jennifer's like, 'Sure, let's do it!'.'
That did not happen, obviously, but if he's open to that, maybe he's open to a new idea. And maybe the Ratliffs could be it.
Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, and Bluesky
Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
35 minutes ago
- USA Today
UFC 316 pre-event facts: Kayla Harrison can join exclusive club of Olympic, UFC champions
UFC 316 pre-event facts: Kayla Harrison can join exclusive club of Olympic, UFC champions The UFC returns to Newark, N.J., for the third consecutive year on Saturday with UFC 316, whic goes down at Prudential Center with a main card on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+. A championship doubleheader tops the card, with both the men's and women's bantamweight titles on the line. In the main event, Merab Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) will rematch Sean O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) after taking the belt from him in September, while in the co-headliner Julianna Peña (11-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) clashes with Olympic champion Kayla Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) for gold. To go inside the numbers behind both title fights, as well as an undercard with many notables, check below for MMA Junkie's pre-event facts for UFC 316. Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley Merab Dvalishvili Dvalishvili is one of two Georgian champions in UFC history. Ilia Topuria also accomplished the feat. Dvalishvili is one of nine undisputed bantamweight champions in UFC history. Dvalishvili is one of three fighters in UFC history to win an undisputed championship after starting 0-2 in the promotion. Rafael dos Anjos and Miesha Tate also accomplished the feat. Dvalishvili's 12-fight UFC winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the company behind Islam Makhachev (15). Dvalishvili's 11-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is the longest active streak in the division. Dvalishvili's 11-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is the longest streak in divisional history. Dvalishvili has earned 15 of his 19 career victories by decision. That includes 11 of his 12 UFC wins. Dvalishvili's 10 decision victories in UFC bantamweight competition are most in divisional history. Dvalishvili has landed 92 takedowns in UFC competition, the most in company history. Georges St-Pierre previously held sole possession of the record since November 2013. Dvalishvili's 79 takedowns landed in UFC bantamweight competition are most in divisional history. Dvalishvili is the only fighter in history to land 10 or more takedowns in four separate UFC bouts. Dvalishvili attempted 49 takedowns at UFC Fight Night 221, the single-fight record for a UFC bout. Dvalishvili has landed 2,092 total strikes in UFC bantamweight competition are most in divisional history. Dvalishvili out-landed Marlon Moraes by 212 total strikes at UFC 266, the largest differential in a single UFC/WEC bantamweight bout. Sean O'Malley O'Malley is one of nine fighters to hold the undisputed UFC bantamweight championship. O'Malley is one of three fighters to win a UFC championship after being signed to the promotion through Dana White's Contender Series. Jack Della Maddalena and Jamahal Hill also accomplished the feat. O'Malley has earned 13 of 18 career victories by stoppage. He's finished all six of his UFC stoppage victories by knockout. O'Malley's six knockout victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (seven). O'Malley lands 6.71 significant strikes per minute in UFC competition, the third-highest rate in bantamweight history behind Louis Smolka (7.18) and Victor Henry (7.17). O'Malley lands 61.5 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC bantamweight competition, the best rate in divisional history. O'Malley landed 220 significant strikes at UFC 299, the single-fight record for a UFC bantamweight championship bout. O'Malley's nine fight-night bonuses for UFC bantamweight bouts are most in divisional history. Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison Julianna Peña Peña is one of six fighters to hold the UFC women's bantamweight title. She is one of two fighters to have multiple title reigns, along with Amanda Nunes. Peña is one of eight fighters in history to win a season of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series and a UFC title. Peña's eight victories in UFC women's bantamweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Nunes (13) and Raquel Pennington (12). Peña's four stoppage victories in UFC women's bantamweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Nunes (eight) and Ronda Rousey (six). Peña's two submission victories in UFC women's bantamweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Rousey (three). Kayla Harrison Harrison is one of four Olympic gold medalist to fight in the UFC, along with Henry Cejudo, Kevin Jackson and Mark Schultz. She's the only multi-time gold medalist in company history. Harrison is one of two Olympic gold medalists to fight in the UFC since the organization was purchased by parent company Zuffa. Cejudo is the other. Harrison is a two-time PFL women's lightweight champion. She accomplished the feat in 2019 and 2021. Joe Pyfer vs. Kelvin Gastelum Joe Pyfer (13-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned 12 of his 13 career victories by stoppage. That includes all four of his UFC wins. Kelvin Gastelum (18-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC) once again returns to the middleweight division after a two-fight stint at welterweight where he went 1-1. Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix Mario Bautista's (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) seven-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is the second-longest active streak in the division behind Dvalishvili (11). Patchy Mix (20-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a former Bellator champion who went 9-1 with the promotion, makes his octagon debut. Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland Vicente Luque's (23-10-1 MMA, 16-6 UFC) 16 victories in UFC welterweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Neil Magny (22), Georges St-Pierre (19) and Matt Brown (17). Luque's 14 stoppage victories in UFC welterweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Brown (15). Luque's eight knockout victories in UFC welterweight competition are tied with Thiago Alves and Li Jingliang for second-most in divisional history behind Brown (13). Luque's 10 knockdowns landed in UFC welterweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Alves (13), Jake Ellenberger (11) and Brown (11). Luque's six submission victories in UFC welterweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Gunnar Nelson (seven). Luque's four D'Arce choke submission victories in UFC competition are most in company history. Luque's nine fight-night bonuses for UFC welterweight bouts are tied with Brown for second-most in divisional history behind Chris Lytle (10). Kevin Holland (27-13 MMA, 14-10 UFC) becomes the second fighter to make three UFC appearances in 2025. Melquizael Costa also accomplished the feat. Holland is 5-3 since he dropped to the UFC welterweight division in March 2022. Holland's 14 UFC victories are the most by any fighter signed from Dana White's Contender Series. Serghei Spivac vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta Serghei Spivac (17-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) complete 65.9 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the best rate in divisional history. Spivac has landed 29 takedowns in UFC heavyweight competition, the third-most in divisional history behind Curtis Blaydes (62) and Cain Velasquez (34). Waldo Cortes-Acosta's (13-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at heavyweight is the longest active streak in the division. Joshua Van vs. Bruno Silva Joshua Van's (13-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is tied for the third-longest active streak in the division behind Alexandre Pantoja (seven) and Andre Lima (four). Van has earned five of his six UFC victories by decision. Van lands 8.1 significant strikes per minute in UFC competition, the highest rate in company history. Van landed 165 significant strikes at UFC 310, the second highest total in a UFC flyweight fight. Jeff Molina holds the record with 189 significant strikes landed at UFC 261. Van, then 23, faced 22-year-old Rei Tsuruya at UFC 313 in the first matchup in UFC history between athletes both born in the 2000s. Brendson Ribeiro vs. Azamat Murzakanov Azamat Murzakanov's (14-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at light heavyweight is the second-longest active streak in the division behind Carlos Ulberg (eight). Brendson Ribeiro (17-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has earned 16 of his 17 career victories by stoppage. Ariane da Silva vs. Wang Cong Ariane da Silva (16-9 MMA, 5-6 UFC) competes in her 13th UFC women's flyweight bout, tied for the third-most appearances in divisional history behind Katlyn Cerminara (14) and Andrea Lee (14). Da Silva has scored three knockdowns in UFC women's flyweight competition, tied with Taila Santos and Molly McCann for most in divisional history. Quillan Salkilld vs. Yanal Ashmouz Quillan Salkilld's (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) earned a 19-second TKO victory at UFC 312, the second-fastest finish by a debuting lightweight in UFC history. Terrance McKinney holds the record with a seven-second win. UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Patrick Schwarzenegger says playing crotch-grabbing alpha male Saxon was a ‘roller coaster ride'
Patrick Schwarzenegger is still coming off the 'whirlwind of emotions' that was the making of 'The White Lotus' Season 3. The actor, who is taking part in a new campaign for Venmo with costar Aimee Lou Wood, spoke to CNN recently about how his perspective has changed since the release of the show, which saw his character Saxon go from loathsome finance bro to a vulnerable young man who realized he has a lot to learn. 'It was definitely a learning experience for me, being on this show,' Schwarzenegger said, adding that the viewership and engaged fandom – famous for its memes and fan theories -– was an experience 'that I've been never been part of.' As for his character – a 'grandiose alpha male that comes in grabbing his crotch and walking around naked,' in Schwarzenegger's words – he acknowledged that there were indeed some parallels between himself and who he portrayed, particularly in how they each were received by the viewing public over the course of the season. 'I think people did not like the character, and what happened was, a lot of people did not know who I was,' he said. '(They would) come up with their preconceived ideas of who I am or how I got the role' based, of course, on his famous last name. As the Mike White-created show went on, viewers learned that there was a lot more to Saxon than met the eye, and it was delivered via Schwarzenegger's capable acting chops – family name notwithstanding. 'It's a mistake to think you know a character that's in a Mike White show on day 1, or on week 2 or week 3,' he shared. Schwarzenegger called the show's creator 'very smart' in how he writes his characters, and 'how they change.' Or don't. 'It was fun for me to watch the hysteria of it all and how it evolved over time,' he said. And while he wasn't surprised that viewers received his character rather coolly at first, he was moved by how much they eventually warmed up to him. 'But I also did not know to what extent people were going to like Saxon,' he said. 'It was a very big roller coaster ride of people despising him to (him) becoming one of the most liked and enjoyed characters by the end, because he had a place to go to.' The same could be said of Schwarzenegger himself, who is slated to appear opposite Al Pacino in the feature 'Billy Knight,' according to his IMDb page. (The project is in post-production with no public release date set). The actor's famous father, however, might have some thoughts on any further on-screen nudity. In their conversation for Variety's 'Actors on Actors,' he once again sounded off on the topic spurred by Saxon's nude scene in the 'White Lotus' season 3 premiere, but this time, in a lovingly embarrassing that way only a father could. 'I'm watching your show, and I'm watching your butt sticking out there, and all of a sudden, I see the weenie,' the elder Schwarzenegger said. His son – and the Internet – howled with laughter. Rollercoaster, indeed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Will Ferrell Developing ‘Eurovision' Stage Musical Based On His 2020 Netflix Film
EXCLUSIVE: A stage musical based on the 2020 Netflix movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is under development with Will Ferrell, Harper Steele and Anthony King writing the book and Savan Kotecha composing the music. Alex Timbers is on board to direct. 'We are more than excited to bring Eurovision to Broadway,' said Ferrell in a statement. 'The stage musical is a perfect place to continue our celebration of all the things we love about this amazing and unifying song competition.' More from Deadline 'Good Night, And Good Luck' Could Tour And "Might" Go To London, George Clooney Tells Seth Meyers Countdown To Broadway's Tony Night: How Are The Nominees Doing At The Box Office? Tony Awards Announce Presenter Line-Up: Keanu Reeves & Alex Winter Part Of Excellent Adventure The adaptation was announced today by producer Lia Vollack. A production timeline was not disclosed. 'Will Ferrell and Harper Steele are my comedy heroes,' said Timbers (Just In Time). 'And when I first saw their joyful movie Eurovision during the pandemic, it buoyed spirits during a very dark time. With this stage adaptation, I can't wait to bring that same mix of heart, spectacle, irreverence, and awe to audiences across the world.' The 2020 film starred Ferrell alongside Rachel McAdams and tells the story of aspiring Icelandic musicians Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdottir as they are given the chance to represent their country at the world's most famous song competition. The film's original song 'Husavik (My Hometown),' written by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus, and Rickard Göransson, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2020. 'This is a stellar team for what I am sure will be an equally stellar adaption of a film the world loved,' said Martin Green CBE Director, Eurovision Song Contest. 'Our aim always is to bring the joy of the Eurovision Song Contest to more people globally – especially as we approach our 70th edition in 2026.' The Eurovision Song Contest is the world's largest live music event and a global superbrand, reaching 166 million viewers around the world on TV and with 19.9 million views on YouTube. It is organized annually by the European Broadcasting Union. The competition has taken place every year since 1956 with notable winners including ABBA and Celine Dion. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More Everything We Know About 'Nobody Wants This' Season 2 So Far
