Julian Kostov

Julian Kostov
Юлиaн Костов
Born (1989-08-25) 25 August 1989 (age 35)
Varna, Bulgaria
Alma materUniversity of Wales Institute Cardiff (BA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • filmmaker
  • talent manager
Years active2010–present

Julian Kostov[a] (born 25 August 1989) is a Bulgarian actor, filmmaker and talent manager. He is best known for his recurring role in the Netflix series Shadow and Bone (2021), as well as for portraying Vladimir Makarov in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023).

Kostov's other television credits include recurring roles in A Discovery of Witches (2018) and the Berlin Station (2018–2019). He has also starred in the films Another Mother's Son (2017), The Toxic Avenger (2023) and The Last Front (2024).

Early life and education

Kostov was born on 25 August 1989 in Varna, Bulgaria.[1] At the age of 12, Kostov became a pentathlon champion for his age group. He was a 10-time National Swimming Champion from 2005 to 2009. In 2008, he earned the Master of Sport title in Swimming. Kostov holds over 60 medals as a professional swimmer, including a bronze medal at the 2007 Balkan Games.[2] He attended the Spanish-language Frederic Joliot-Curie School in Varna,[3] before entering post-secondary studies at Tilburg University, where he majored in international business.[4]

After two years in the Netherlands, Kostov decided to move to the United Kingdom and pursue a career in acting, inspired by Heath Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight.[5] He transferred to Cardiff Metropolitan University to finish his studies, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Business Studies in 2011. He was admitted to the National Youth Theatre that same year.[4] Kostov began auditioning for agents, eventually signing with one. He later switched to a different agent and landed a Gillette commercial. During that period, he also took classes at Anthony Meindl's Actor Workshop in London.[5]

Career

Kostov began his acting career in Bulgarian and British productions, including a two-episode guest arc on 24: Live Another Day in 2014. In 2016, he had minor roles in the films Ben-Hur and London Has Fallen.[6] He began doing motion capture and voice acting for video games.

In 2017, Kostov starred as Feodor "Bill" Burriy in the independent British war film Another Mother's Son.[7] That same year, he appeared in the American horror film Leatherface.[8] Kostov has had a number of television roles, including Timur in A Discovery of Witches,[9] Sergei Basarov in Berlin Station, and Yuri Leniov in Treadstone.[10] In 2021, Kostov played Fedyor Kaminsky in the first season of the Netflix fantasy series Shadow and Bone.[11]

In 2023, Kostov portrayed Vladimir Makarov in Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III.[12] He next starred in the superhero splatter film The Toxic Avenger (2023), directed by Macon Blair.[13] In 2024, Kostov starred in the Belgian period drama The Last Front,[14] and was cast in season 3 of The White Lotus.[15][16] He is also slated to co-produce and lead Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov's Triumph,[10] and star alongside Josh Hartnett in James Madigan's upcoming film Fight Or Flight.[17]

Other endeavours

In 2014, Kostov founded JupiterLights Productions, a Bulgaria-based production and talent management company. Their debut feature film The Dare was released in 2019.[18] JupiterLights represents Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova in the United Kingdom.[19] Kostov is also the co-founder of the production company Five Oceans alongside Bakalova.[10]

Acting credits

Film

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
2013 Code Red Harold Miller
2014 Rapid Response Corps 2: Nuclear Threat Damon Johnson
2015 Early Birds Jack Short film
Colour Me Grey Nikolai Short film
2016 London Has Fallen Aide
Ben-Hur Wounded Soldier
The Quickening Mike Short film
Bar Tricks Derek
2017 Another Mother's Son Feodor "Bill" Burriy
The Naughty List Voiceover Short film
Leatherface Ted Hardesty [20]
2018 The Conversation Sam Quentin Short film
Risk Daniel the Host Short film
2019 Going Country Matey Short film
2020 Search and Destroy Marcus Cooper
2023 The Toxic Avenger Budd Berserk
2024 The Last Front Thomas Bosmans
Triumph Private Georgi Also producer
TBA Fight or Flight Aaron Hunter Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2014 24: Live Another Day Agent Harwell 2 episodes
Crystal Skulls Hadden Security TV film
2016 Barbarians Rising Marcus 2 episodes
2018 A Discovery of Witches Timur Recurring role (season 1)[21][22]
2018–2019 Berlin Station Sergei Basarov Recurring role (season 3)
2019 Flack Juan Episode: "Patrick"
Wild Bill Marek Rudnicka Episode: "Welcome to Boston"
Treadstone Yuri Leniov (1973) 2 episodes
2020 Back Luca 2 episodes
2021 Shadow and Bone Fedyor Kaminsky Recurring role (season 1)[23]
Temple Max 2 episodes
2024 Alex Rider Oleg 2 episodes
2024 Creature Commandos Alexei, additional voices 3 episodes[24]
2025 The White Lotus TBA Upcoming season[25]

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Tom Clancy's The Division Narrator, JTF Officer, Thug
2017 The Lego Ninjago Movie Video Game Lloyd Garmadon [24]
Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 Additional voices
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Godfrey English version[24]
2018 Bravo Team Mordean soldier
A Way Out Additional voices
Overkill's The Walking Dead The Family
2019 Crossfire HD/CrossfireX Alexander Steiner Story mode
2023 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Vladimir Makarov Story mode[26][24]

Stage

Year Title Role Venue Notes
2010 Stadium Arts Actor National Youth Theatre
2016 The Millennials Paul Black Cat Theatre
2017 The Ballerina Colin Clutterbuck The Landor

Filmmaking credits

  • Early Birds (2015) – writer, producer
  • The Dare (2019) – producer, second unit director
  • What Stays After (2024) – producer
  • You Don't Exist (2024) – producer
  • Triumph (TBA) – producer, actor

Notes

  1. ^ Bulgarian: Юлиaн Костов, romanized: Yulian Kostov, IPA: [ʲuliˈan ˈkɔstof].

References

  1. ^ Ognyanova, Lilia (23 March 2015). "Българската следа в Лондон – актьорът Юлиан Костов". Edna (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  2. ^ Cholakova, Galina (21 January 2019). "Юлиан Костов: Аз съм болезнен романтик". Rozali (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Юлиан Костов". BTV (in Bulgarian). 15 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  4. ^ a b Orsini, Tino (3 March 2018). "The Tino Orsini Show Episode 66 with guest Julian Kostov" (Podcast). Spotify. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  5. ^ a b Kostov, Julian (21 June 2021). "How 'Shadow + Bone' Star Julian Kostov Went From His Native Bulgaria to the Netflix Hit". Backstage. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  6. ^ Dimova, Tanya (24 April 2017). "Юлиан Костов Не резултатът, а пътят е важен". Bulgarian National Radio (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  7. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (24 March 2017). "Another Mother's Son review – moving drama on a forgotten occupation". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  8. ^ Squires, John (28 September 2016). "Leatherface Rated R for Bloody Violence". Dead Central. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  9. ^ Motes, Jax (11 May 2018). "Get Your First Glimpse Of Sky's 'A Discovery Of Witches' TV Series". Science Fiction. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  10. ^ a b c Andreeva, Nellie (25 August 2022). "Maria Bakalova To Headline & Produce 'Triumph' In Her First Bulgarian Movie Following 'Borat' Breakthrough". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  11. ^ Petski, Denise (18 December 2019). "'Shadow And Bone': Netflix Series Adds Seven To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  12. ^ Tomar, Mintu (8 September 2023). ""Literally Perfect for the Role" – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Fans Have Full Faith in a New Actor Playing Makarov As They Draw Comparisons With Barry Sloane's Iconic Captain Price". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  13. ^ Reynolds, Maca (22 September 2023). "The Toxic Avenger Remake First Reactions Tease a Fun, Gory & Crazy Adventure". MovieWeb. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  14. ^ Ontong, Joel (8 February 2024). "'Truly a gift': SA's Anna Ballantine on filming 'meaningful' new movie with Thrones star Iain Glen". News24. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  15. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (6 February 2024). "'The White Lotus': Julian Kostov Joins Season 3 In Recasting". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  16. ^ Porter, Rick (6 February 2024). "'White Lotus' Taps Julian Kostov to Replace Milos Bikovic". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  17. ^ Roberts, Jasmine (26 October 2023). "Josh Hartnett to Star in M. Night Shyamalan's New Psychological Thriller". Collider. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  18. ^ Fischer, Dom (16 July 2020). "'The Dare' Review – Had Me Shouting, "Oh Sh*t!"". Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  19. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2 February 2021). "Maria Bakalova's Journey From Burgas to 'Borat' & Living the Dream She'd Given Up". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  20. ^ Squires, John (8 February 2017). "We Will Meet Sally and Franklin's Father in Leatherface". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  21. ^ Motes, Jax (11 May 2018). "Get Your First Glimpse Of Sky's A Discovery Of Witches TV Series". ScienceFiction.com. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  22. ^ Packard, Michael (4 May 2021). "Casting Kostov". Drama Quarterly. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  23. ^ Petski, Denise (18 December 2019). "Shadow And Bone: Netflix Series Adds Seven To Cast". Deadline. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d "Julian Kostov (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 22 September 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  25. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (6 February 2024). "The White Lotus: Julian Kostov Joins Season 3 In Recasting". Deadline. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  26. ^ McWhertor, Michael (17 August 2023). "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is all in on Modern Warfare 2 nostalgia". Polygon. Retrieved 22 September 2024.