IN CONVERSATION WITH JULIAN KOSTOV
interview by JANA LETONJA
Actor and filmmaker Julian Kostov will be joining the cast of HBO’s hit series ‘The White Lotus’ for its third season, releasing on 16th February. He is best known for his recurring role in the Netflix series ‘Shadow and Bone’, as well as for portraying Vladimir Makarov in ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III’.
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socks by FALKE
coat by GUCCI
sunglasses by JACQUES MARIE MAGE
You’ll be starring in the third season of ‘The White Lotus’. How does it feel to join such an iconic show, especially given the high level of anticipation from fans?
I found myself in paradise, in the middle of the breathtaking Four Seasons Resort in Koh Samui, acting in one of the most iconic TV series with some of the greatest actors out there and, of course, the genius that is Mike White at the helm of the ship. And here I am, a boy from Varna, Bulgaria, living his Hollywood dream yet again. I played Vladimir Makarov, one of the most iconic video game villains, last year in the remake of 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III', and previously in the highly anticipated adaptation of the Grishaverse books 'Shadow and Bone', so I’m used to this kind of pressure. In fact, it focuses me and raises my game. I think this comes from my time as a competitive swimmer. I would always perform better at big competitions. But of course, I go through all the stages before I get there, from imposter syndrome to “I belong here, I’ve earned this.” But speaking to everyone else in the cast, we all felt the same way. It was surreal. It still is. Some days you find it normal, like that’s just my life, and other days you’re like “What?!” It’s modern mythmaking at its finest, and I couldn’t be prouder to be in it and represent my country on the world stage of entertainment.
coat and shoes by GUCCI
socks by FALKE
coat by GUCCI
sunglasses by JACQUES MARIE MAGE
While the plot of Season 3 is under wraps, can you give us a hint about your character and his story?
All I can say without spoiling anything at this point is that Alexei is a Russian ex-pat, larger than life, and dangerously sexy, if you ask him.
The previous seasons of 'The White Lotus' have been huge successes, earning multiple Emmy nominations. What do you hope your addition to the cast will bring to this season, and how does it feel to be part of such a talented ensemble?
I’m sure Season 3 will continue this success. Even though you never create anything thinking about award shows, I am certain that the brilliant work everyone has done will be recognized again. It’s the best season so far, and the longest. As far as I’m concerned, it’s an honor to be side by side with some of the most talented people in their field. I think I’ll bring a sense of unhinged wildness and an edgy energy. Whenever my character appears, madness ensues, so I hope that he surprises you. Mike White has written amazing characters for the Eastern Europeans, so it’s not your stereotypical Hollywood Russian part.
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You’ve starred in and also produced 'Triumph', which has received rave reviews. What was it like working on a project that has garnered such attention, and how did you get involved with this film as both an actor and producer?
I actually just got back from the US premiere of 'Triumph' at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. It’s been an exciting road for our movie, with Rolling Stone magazine naming us one of the top 10 feature films at the Toronto International Film Festival 2024. Maria Bakalova and I started our production company, Five Oceans, a few years ago with the intent to export Bulgarian culture abroad, either by curating scripts we champion and joining as producers and actors, or by developing our own original work. In this case, Maria and I really connected to a script by Kristina Grozeva and Peter Vulchanov, two of the most talented and decorated Bulgarian directors. It’s inspired by an amazing true story from the early 90s, at the dawn of democracy, where a group of psychics guided the Bulgarian military to dig a hole in search of Alien Intelligence that would “Make Bulgaria Great Again.” 'Triumph' really serves as a cautionary tale about how easily we can be swayed to believe what we want to, but unfortunately, that doesn’t necessarily make it true. In this digital age, where the propaganda tool is in our own pockets, we need to be extra vigilant about who we follow and idolise and beware of false prophets.
My producing journey started in 2015 with my own production company, Jupiterlights Media, because I knew I’d have fewer opportunities than most people and wanted to create meaningful work that showcased my acting. Since then, I’ve been producing multiple features and shorts that I don’t necessarily star in. The latest project on which I’m an EP and actor is the 'Shattered Bonds' series, based on the best-selling Bulgarian novel 'The Mothers', which has a screening and panel discussion at Berlinale this month, and Beta Film is selling it internationally. Mixing acting and producing can be challenging, but gives the actor more control and creative input. However, you always need to keep the overall story as your focus, so the actor ego must be silenced.
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Your career has spanned a variety of roles, from 'Shadow and Bone' to 'Temple' and 'Triumph'. How do you decide which roles to take on, and what is it about a project that draws you in?
I like to challenge myself and choose material that scares me. It could be something related to the style or genre, stunts and fights, a drastic change in physical appearance, huge monologues, or roles with minimal dialogue. Basically, I want to find things I haven’t done before. And of course, the writing. It’s rare to find well-written, three-dimensional Eastern European characters, and I’ve been lucky to land some of those parts. For me, these range from the true story drama 'Another Mother’s Son' all the way to 'The White Lotus'. Luckily, my superpower is my linguistic ability, and I really love to dive into speaking different languages and accents. I’ve played American, British, Russian, Bulgarian, Spanish, Italian, Moldovan, Polish, and, for 'Shadow and Bone', I developed my own accent, which I call “European Fairytale English.” I love all genres, but I’m a geek, so sci-fi and fantasy are my jam.
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Looking back on your career, how do you feel about the path you’ve taken? What are you most proud of so far?
I’ve actually thought a lot about this question, and my honest answer is that inside myself, I don’t feel more successful or happy now than I did at 22, starting out, trying to make it as a wide-eyed Bulgarian actor in London. I was just so happy and proud to have found what I love to do and surviving with a smile in this hard industry. But of course, I am very proud of some of my achievements, like 'The White Lotus', 'Call of Duty', 'Shadow and Bone', 'Another Mother’s Son', to name a few. And of course, it was a dream come true to become a part of James Gunn’s DC Universe reboot in 'Creature Commandos', which became MAX’s number-one animation series. Because he wanted to work with Maria, James Gunn based the series around a fictional Slavic country, Pokolistan, and she and I got to speak in our native Bulgarian language as well. This is meaningful representation and really aligns with our mission of breaking down barriers for Slavic and Balkan actors.
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boots MARCELL
With 'The White Lotus' Season 3 and other exciting projects in the pipeline, 2025 is shaping up to be a huge year for you. What are you most excited about for this year, knowing you also have 'Fight or Flight' and 'The Toxic Avenger' coming up?
I’m so excited about 'The White Lotus', but both feature films, 'Fight or Flight' and 'The Toxic Avenger', are crazy good films that I am very proud of. 'Fight or Flight' is a great action comedy starring Josh Hartnett, one of my favorite actors. I play Aaron Hunter, an ops agent working on the ground to get a high-value asset secured on US soil. I worked primarily with Katie Sackhoff. It’s made by Thunder Road, the 'John Wick' people, so it’s one hell of a thrill ride with non-stop action and escalating twists and turns from start to finish. In 'The Toxic Avenger', which will open on Labor Day, I play opposite Peter Dinklage, Elijah Wood, Jacob Tremblay, and Taylour Paige. I’m bleach blonde, wearing joker face paint, and the frontman of a rap-rock band who are also hitmen. I perform several songs in the movie, which was very exciting.
shirt and trousers DENZIL PATRICK
boots MARCELL
As you continue to grow as both an actor and producer, what are the next big goals or projects you’re hoping to tackle in the near future?
I recently directed my first short film, 'Red Market', and I’ve started making my own original music since filming 'The Toxic Avenger'. It gave me the bug to perform. So, I’m searching for more material to direct and create myself. I am focused on developing my writing. For example, I’m writing a creature film called 'Blatnik', inspired by Bulgarian folklore. It’s kind of like 'Predator' meets 'Ocean’s 11'. It will be set in Bulgaria, with two Bulgarian characters at the center of it, played by Maria and me. However, the rest of the cast will be international, so it will predominantly be in English. For acting, I’m hoping 'Star Wars' will finally make me a Jedi or a Sith.
shirt and trousers DENZIL PATRICK
boots MARCELL
TEAM CREDITS:
talent JULIAN KOSTOV
photography DAVID REISS
styling HANNAH BECK
hair CHARLEY MCEWEN AT THE ONLY AGENCY
photography assistant STEFANIA CARLI
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA
