TV Julian Kostov replaces Miloš Biković in The White Lotus season 3 amid Russia-Ukraine controversy The "Shadow and Bone" alum is checking into "The White Lotus" Thailand following Biković's exit. By Jessica Wang Jessica Wang Jessica is a staff writer at Entertainment Weekly, where she covers TV, movies, and pop culture. Her work has appeared in Bustle, NYLON, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, and more. She lives in California with her dog. EW's editorial guidelines Published on February 6, 2024 12:24PM EST Bulgarian actor and filmmaker Julian Kostov has been cast in season 3 of The White Lotus, replacing Miloš Biković. Character details have been kept under wraps, but Deadline previously reported that the recurring role would be for a Russian yogi named Valentin, the life enhancement mentor at the Thailand-based White Lotus resort. Kostov's other recent credits include the series Shadow and Bone, film The Toxic Avenger, and video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. HBO parted ways with Biković last week, after Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed the network for hiring the Serbian-Russian actor and accused him of supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in early 2022. "Is it all right for you to work with a person who supports genocide and violates international law?" the ministry tweeted at HBO. Julian Kostov joins 'The White Lotus' season 3. Dave Benett/WireImage Biković, a Russian citizen since 2021, previously told Russian publication Telegraf in 2019 that he had been banned from entering Ukraine. The actor released a statement on Instagram following his exit, writing that a "targeted campaign has been unleashed against" him, "seemingly as an external maneuver to influence decisions that can create a disturbing precedent, shadowing the essence of artistic freedom." The previously announced season 3 cast includes Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Francesca Corney, Nicholas Duvernay, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tayme Thapthimthong, Aimee Lou Wood, and returning star Natasha Rothwell, reprising her role as Belinda from season 1. Production begins in and around Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok this month. Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Related content: The White Lotus drops Miloš Biković after Ukraine accuses actor of supporting Russian invasion The White Lotus creator teases 'supersized' season 3: 'It's going to be longer, bigger, crazier' Elizabeth Banks pleads her case to be on The White Lotus: 'I want to be murdered so badly'