Julian Kostov replaces Milos Pekovic in the third season

Diana King

Exclusive: Julian Kostoff (Shadow and bones) was cast in the third season of the HBO series White lotus. The Bulgarian actor will play a recurring Russian character, replacing Miloš Pekovic who was originally cast in the role. The Serbian-Russian actor exited the project on Friday after criticism from Ukraine.

The third season, set to begin filming soon in and around Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok, will follow a new group of guests at another White Lotus hotel based in Thailand.

The previously announced third season cast includes Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Francesca Corneille, Nicolas DuVernay, Arnas Vidaravicius, Christian Friedel, Walton Goggins, Dom Hetrakul, Sarah Katherine Hawke, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Sam Nivola, Morgana O'Reilly, and Lake Patravadi. Shalini Pires, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Time Thapthithong and Amy Lou Wood, as well as season 1 co-star Natasha Rothwell.

Written, written and directed by White, White lotus It is executive produced by White, David Bernad and Mark Kamen. In connection with the filming and promotion of Part 3, HBO has partnered with the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Over the past decade, Kostov has built his career in the UK, performing in English – as well as Spanish (Flak), Italian (behind), polishing (Wild Bill) and Russian (Berlin Tradestone Station) and Romanian (temple).

Kostov is best known for his recurring role as Fyodor Kaminsky, a Russian-inspired character, in the first season of the Netflix fantasy series. Shadow and bones. He also plays Russian villain Vladimir Makarov in the 2023 video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. In features, Kostov was recently seen in the reboot of the superhero comedy horror film Toxic avenger.

He is the producing partner of fellow Oscar-nominated Bulgarian actor Borat star Maria Bakalova, after the two struck up a friendship during the casting process in which Kostov assisted. The duo's production company, Five Oceans, has finished production of its first Bulgarian film victoryin which Kostov and Bakalova also star.

Kostov is repped by Industry Entertainment and Insight Management & Production in the UK.

The first season of White lotus, set in Hawaii, received 20 Emmy nominations across 13 categories and won 10 awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. The Sicily-set sequel, which premiered in December 2022, received 23 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, winning five.