The collective shock of the White Lotus Season 3 finale hasn’t worn off, but there’s already anticipation building for the TV anthology’s next installment. The White Lotus is heading into uncharted territory—both geographically and creatively. As anticipation builds for season 4, two significant behind-the-scenes changes are poised to reshape the show’s signature aesthetic and sound.

‘The White Lotus’ composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer exits after creative rift

Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, the composer behind The White Lotus’s unforgettable, primal score, has exited the series following a reported falling out with series creator Mike White. The composer’s music, with its unsettling chants and hypnotic rhythms, has become a defining feature of the show’s tone and tension.

According to de Veer, the feud with White escalated during season 3, ultimately leading to the split. The composer told The New York Times that White never truly embraced the score and disliked the theme’s signature sound.

The White Lotus Season 3 theme did not have de Veer’s “ooh-loo-loo-loos” in the televised version. The sounds helped the original stand out, but White blocked the composer’s suggestion to release a different version to the public.

I don’t think everybody was really aware of how attached people were to the ‘ooh-loo-loo-loos.’ People are furious about the change of the theme, and I thought that was interesting. I texted the producer and I told him that it would be great to, at some point, give [fans] the longer version with the ooh-loo-loo-loos because people will explode if they realize that it was going there anyway. He thought it was a good idea. But then Mike cut that — he wasn’t happy about that. At that point, we already had our last fight forever, I think. So he was just saying ‘no’ to anything.

Cristóbal Tapia de Veer

While HBO has yet to announce a new composer, de Veer’s departure marks a major shift for the show. His sonic world-building played a crucial role in giving The White Lotus its haunting, almost mythical atmosphere. A new musical voice could lead to a tonal recalibration for season 4.

Mike White wants to leave the ocean behind in season 4

In another surprising turn, Mike White hinted that the next season will trade in its signature beachside vistas for something entirely different. The White Lotus creator said he wants to get away from the “crashing waves vernacular” for the next season.

White suggested a move inland in the season 3 finale commentary that aired on HBO. Though the show’s previous settings in Hawaii, Sicily, and most recently Thailand have been rich in natural beauty and cultural tension, the ocean has always provided a moody, omnipresent backdrop.

Plenty of options exist for possible new destinations. The deserts of the American Southwest, a mountain retreat in South America, or a safari resort in Africa could all inspire White. Wherever the next season lands, the change in scenery could inject new energy—and new social satire—into the franchise.

What the changes mean for ‘The White Lotus’ Season 4

Together, these changes point toward a bold reinvention of The White Lotus. The absence of Tapia de Veer’s iconic score and a break from the coastal setting suggest that White is ready to challenge the show’s formula. By exploring new environments and collaborating with fresh creative voices, season 4 may push the series into more unexpected, and potentially darker, territory.

Still, the core of The White Lotus—its biting commentary on wealth, privilege, and human absurdity—seems likely to remain intact. With a new musical language and a fresh location, The White Lotus Season 4 could offer audiences an entirely new flavor of unease.