How The White Lotus director had to recast major role at the last minute after controversial actor openly supported Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and accepted an award from the tyrant
The third and highly anticipated series of The White Lotus has finally dropped after a whopping two-and-a-half-year wait.
But the series – this time filmed on Koh Samui, Thailand and featuring a star-studded cast including the likes of Jason Isaacs, Aimee Lou Wood and Patrick Schwarzenegger – could have looked very different, with one major role being recast at the 11th hour.
The series which premiered on February 16 and is created, written and directed by Mike White, has already made headlines for its racy scenes and captivating plot.
Originally, Serbian Russian actor Miloš Biković had been cast as a recurring role of Russian yogi named Valentin, a life enhancement mentor – but HBO decided to ‘part ways’ with him after his pro-Putin stance came to light.
In February 2024, dashing Bulgarian actor Julian Kostov – who previously starred in Netflix’s Shadow And Bone – was picked to replace him.
Biković was due to star in the show until Ukraine complained about his political beliefs as he was an open supporter of Russia’s invasion – and was even awarded the ‘medal of Pushkin’ by Putin for his achievements in the arts, becoming a Russian citizen in 2021.
In an Instagram post shortly after his sacking, he claimed the move marked a ‘disturbing precedent’ by the network and claimed he was victim of a ‘targeted campaign’.
The third season of the White Lotus could have looked very different as a last-minute change was made to the cast
‘I grew up in a war-torn country. At the age of 11, I endured days and nights in shelters while my homeland and my hometown were bombed. I could never wish such a devastation on anyone,’ the Serbian actor wrote on Instagram.
Bikovic said he wished for active conflicts everywhere ‘to stop and for the principles of love to prevail.’
‘Today, a targeted campaign has been unleashed against me, seemingly as an external maneuver to influence decisions that can create a disturbing precedent shadowing the essence of artistic freedom,’ Biković wrote.
He said: ‘The result of such a narrative is the triumph of absurdity and the defeat of art.’
Addressing his statement, Bikovic said, ‘I was honored to be chosen to be a part of White Lotus, a TV series that I hold in high regard and with colleagues whom I deeply respect.’
‘However, my participation is not possible due to reasons beyond the realm of art and I will not bow to any narrative that seeks to compromise my integrity,’ he added.
Ukraine slammed HBO last January for casting the pro-Putin actor, who was given a medal of honor from the despot himself for his services to the arts, and has consistently supported his invasive actions against Ukraine and Crimea.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs boldly called HBO out for its decision to cast Serbian actor Miloš Biković in the upcoming third season of its hit show.
Originally, Serbian Russian actor Miloš Biković had been cast as a recurring Russian character – but was fired by HBO after his pro-Putin stance came to light. Pictured accepting a prize from Putin
Bulgarian heartthrob Julian Kostov was brought in at the 11th hour as a recurring member of the cast
Bikovic called the recasting decision a ‘disturbing precedent’ in an Instagram post, claiming he’s the victim of a ‘targeted campaign’
Biković was believed to have been cast in the role of Russian Valentin, a charming yogi and the hotel’s ‘Life Enhancement Mentor’
The ministry published a video at the time showing Biković shaking Vladimir Putin’s hand at a ceremony where he was handed a top cultural prize.
He was handed the Pushkin medal, awarded to both Russian citizens and foreigners for achievements in the arts and culture, education, humanities and literature, in 2018 at a ceremony held at the Kremlin, and was awarded Russian citizenship in 2021.
Biković, a dual Serbian and Russian citizen, said at the time: ‘It is a great honor to say today – Russia is my homeland.’
He added that he was ‘an active member of Russian society.’
A graduate of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts at the University of Arts in Belgrade, Serbia, Biković has almost exclusively starred in dozens of Russian or Serbian TV, film and theatre productions over his 20-year career.
His role in the White Lotus, created, written and directed by Mike White, and executive produced by White, David Bernad and Mark Kamine, was set to be Biković’s first in a Western production.
He is represented by Chris Prapha and Deanna Russo Clark at Artist International Group and Marina Leonova at SV Casting in Russia.
AFP reported that Biković claimed in 2019 that he was banned from entering Ukraine for national security reasons.
Ukraine lashed out at HBO for casting the pro-Putin actor
A graduate of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts at the University of Arts in Belgrade, Serbia, Biković has almost exclusive starred in Russian or Serbian TV, film and theatre productions
Ukraine claims that he support’s Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and said he has filmed TV shows in Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Putin’s forces in 2014.
‘Dear HBO, do you really support genocide?’ they said, applying pressure on the network to drop the actor.
A resurfaced clip showed Biković telling a reporter that he supported the annexation. He said in response to a broad question about Crimea: ‘It differs from the fact that Russians live there.’
Asked whether this was enough of a reason Russia to ‘take it away and assign it to itself,’ the actor said: ‘[Crimeans] do it themselves, as the referendum.’
Biković referred to a heavily disputed referendum that took place after Russia invaded Crimea, formerly a part of Ukraine that was largely autonomous from the nation.
The first trailer for the upcoming third season of White Lotus dropped last month, teasing sex, guns, and a dead body.
The latest season is set in Thailand and stars Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs and a bevy of others who’ve signed on for the popular show from creator Mike White.
Mirela Ilieva and Julian Kostov attend the Los Angeles Premiere of HBO Original Series ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 at Paramount Theatre
The first season premiered in July 2021, was set in Hawaii and received 20 Emmy nominations across 13 categories and 10 wins, the most wins of any program that year.
The second season, which premiered in December 2022, was set in Sicily and garnered 23 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, and five wins.
Season three looks to build on the critical and audience success of the first two seasons when it drops on February 16 on HBO.
‘Our hotel is the best in the world,’ an employee says in the trailer, promising that ‘at the end of the week, you will be an entirely different person’.
