The White Lotus season 3 has an exciting new cast member: Lisa of the internationally hit-making K-pop group BLACKPINK.
Since her debut in 2016, Lisa has become one of the most influential musicians on earth, both as a member of BLACKPINK and a soloist, which has also led her to become a distinguished figure in fashion and beauty spaces. Now, the star is going full multi-hyphenate with a slated acting debut in the upcoming third season of Mike White’s The White Lotus.
On February 12, Variety was the first to report Lisa had joined the cast of HBO’s The White Lotus season 3, which is expected to premiere sometime in 2025. This makes her the second member of BLACKPINK to join a Hollywood project. Last year, Jennie Kim also made her acting debut on another HBO show, appearing as Dyanne on The Idol, where she was credited as Jennie Ruby Jane. (The highly controversial show was canceled after one season.)
Rather than using her mononymous stage moniker, Lisa will be credited under her full name, Lalisa Manobal, for The White Lotus. Details about her role are still being kept under wraps, but she will join a new star-studded cast that also includes Sex Education‘s Aimee Lou Wood, Harry Potter‘s Jason Isaacs, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Leslie Bibb, and many more.
Each season, The White Lotus transports viewers to different corners of the world, following the hijinks of a different set of guests staying at a resort that is part of the White Lotus franchise. The first season — which starred Jennifer Coolidge and Teen Vogue New Hollywood alum Sydney Sweeney, among others — took place in Hawaii, while season 2 brought viewers to Sicily in Italy.
Back in 2022, it was already reported that The White Lotus season 3 would likely take place in Asia, but it wasn’t until 2023 that Thailand was announced as the show’s next destination. Why is this relevant? Well, Thailand is where, perhaps not-so-coincidentally, Lisa originates from. Will she be portraying herself in the show? Or will she step into the shoes of a local guest or a White Lotus worker? Only time will tell!
As Variety notes, season 3 of The White Lotus is expected to begin production in February across various locations in Lisa’s native Thailand — namely Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok. The pub also highlights that HBO and the Tourism Authority of Thailand have teamed up to support the filming and promotion of The White Lotus season 3.
Lisa’s White Lotus announcement comes right after news that the star had set up her own company, LLOUD Co., earlier this month. Following the expiration of their exclusive contracts with YG Entertainment, all members of BLACKPINK decided not to renew their individual contracts with the company while still continuing to work together under YG for group activities.
