Julian Kostov

Julian Kostov
Юлиан Костов
Kostov in 2021
Born (1989-08-25) 25 August 1989
Varna, Bulgaria
EducationUniversity of Wales Institute Cardiff (BA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • filmmaker
Years active2010–present

Julian Kostov (born 25 August 1989) is a Bulgarian actor and filmmaker. In 2025, he starred as Marek in the West End production of Till the Stars Come Down at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, a transfer from the Royal National Theatre. He has been described as the first Bulgarian actor to perform in a West End production.[1][2]

In 2026, he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series as part of the cast of the HBO series The White Lotus.[3]

He gained international recognition for his roles in Shadow and Bone (2021) and as the antagonist Vladimir Makarov in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023).[4]

His film career includes starring roles in the action-comedy Fight or Flight (2025) alongside Josh Hartnett, the anti-superhero comedy The Toxic Avenger (2023), and the war dramas The Last Front (2024) and Another Mother's Son (2017). He is slated to appear in the upcoming Netflix feature The Boy in the Iron Box, produced by Guillermo del Toro.[5]

Beyond his acting career, Kostov is the founder of JupiterLights Media and co-founder of Five Oceans alongside Academy Award-nominee Maria Bakalova, with multiple award-winning projects as a producer and director, including Triumph, Bulgaria's official submission for the 97th Academy Awards.[6][7]

Kostov has spoken about the need for greater representation of Slavic and Balkan actors and the normalization of foreign accents on screen.[8][9]

Early life and education

Julian Kostov was born on 25 August 1989 in Varna, Bulgaria.[10] 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.[11] He attended the Spanish-language Frederic Joliot-Curie School in Varna,[12] before entering post-secondary studies at Tilburg University, where he majored in international business.[13]

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.[14] 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.[13] 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.[14]

Career

Early career and critical breakthrough (2014–2020)

Kostov began his acting career with a guest role on 24: Live Another Day in 2014, followed by appearances in Ben-Hur and London Has Fallen.[15] In 2017, Kostov portrayed the historic figure Feodor "Bill" Burriy in the World War II drama Another Mother's Son, receiving positive reviews for his performance. Critics highlighted his "brooding, internalised quality," with HeyUGuys observing that he bore an "uncanny resemblance to a young Robert De Niro" in the film.[16]

That same year, he appeared in the horror film Leatherface, playing Ted Hardesty, the father of the original franchise's protagonists.[17] Between 2018 and 2020, he held recurring television roles in A Discovery of Witches, Berlin Station, and Treadstone.[18]

Breakthrough and international recognition (2021–present)

In 2021, Kostov gained international recognition as Fedyor Kaminsky in the Netflix series Shadow and Bone[19] In 2023, he portrayed the antagonist Vladimir Makarov in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.[20]

In 2024, Kostov provided the voice for Aleksei in James Gunn's DC Universe reboot series Creature Commandos.[21] The same year, he produced and starred in Triumph, which premiered in the Platform competition at the Toronto International Film Festival and was selected as the Bulgarian entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.[22]

In 2025, Kostov appeared in several major productions. He starred as Aleksei in the third season of the HBO series The White Lotus, earning a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination in 2026.[23] Kostov appeared as Budd Berserk opposite Elijah Wood and Peter Dinklage in the superhero splatter film The Toxic Avenger, which received a wide release in 2025.[24]

In the same year, Kostov also starred alongside Josh Hartnett and veteran co-star Katee Sackhoff in the action-comedy Fight or Flight. His portrayal of the caustic operative Aaron Hunter was highlighted as a comedic standout, with Screen Rant observing that both actors "chew the scenery with aplomb."[25]

Kostov is slated to appear in the upcoming Netflix feature The Boy in the Iron Box, produced by Academy Award-winner Guillermo del Toro.[5]

Stage and West End debut

In 2025, he became the first Bulgarian actor to perform in a West End production, starring as Marek in the National Theatre's transfer of Till the Stars Come Down at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.[26][27][28]

His portrayal of the Polish groom Marek received widespread critical acclaim from major UK publications. Clive Davis of The Times noted that his presence elicited visceral "gasps from the audience" during the play's climax.[29] The Stage praised his "energizing" performance, describing the character as "by turns charming, impulsive, and prickly," while Time Out London called him a "bright light" who played the role with "gusto."[30]

The Evening Standard noted that Kostov "impressed," bringing "range and passion, as well as an excellent comic touch" to the role. The Sunday Express further described his performance as a "stand out delight," and theatre publication All That Dazzles called him "charming and charismatic," adding it was a performance "impossible not to fall in love with."[31]

Other endeavours

In 2014, Kostov founded JupiterLights Media (formerly JupiterLights Productions), a UK-based production company. The company produced the horror-thriller film The Dare (2019).[32] JupiterLights is also credited with managing the early international career of Academy Award-nominee Maria Bakalova.[33]

Alongside Bakalova, Kostov co-founded the production company Five Oceans, which focuses on bringing Balkan and Eastern European stories to a global audience. Through Five Oceans, he co-produced the satirical drama Triumph (2024), in which he also starred.[34]

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 [35]
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
2025 Fight or Flight Aaron Hunter
TBA The Boy in the Iron Box † Filming[36]

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)[37][38]
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)[39]
Temple Max 2 episodes
2024 Alex Rider Oleg 2 episodes
2024 Creature Commandos Alexei, Sergei, additional voices 3 episodes[40]
2025 The White Lotus Aleksei Season 3[41]

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 [40]
Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 Hulkling [40]
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Godfrey English version[40]
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[42][40]

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
2025 Till the Stars Come Down Marek Theatre Royal Haymarket West End debut; transfer from the Royal National Theatre

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 (2025) – producer, actor
  • The Day She Will Be Born (2025) – producer, actor
  • Shattered Bonds (2025) – executive producer, actor
  • Red Market (2024) – director, writer

Music

Kostov has also released music as a recording artist, with singles including "Rain", "Home (My Gaia)", "Groundhog Day", and "420".[43]

TitleYearNotes
"Rain"2024feat. Maria Dragneva
"Home (My Gaia)"2024
"Groundhog Day"2024
"Addicted"2025with Pavell
"420"2025
"Pool Boy"2025
"Твоето тяло"2026with Mirela Ilieva

Soundtrack

TitleYearNotes
"(We Are) Crazy and Dangerous"2023Performed as Budd Berserk in The Toxic Avenger; credited to The Killer Nutz
"My Baby Is an Axe"2023Performed as Budd Berserk in The Toxic Avenger
"Groundhog Day"2024Featured in the short film Red Market

Notes

References

  1. ↑ Higgins, Charlotte (15 August 2025). "Sinead Matthews: 'I had a very bad stammer'". The Stage. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  2. ↑ "Българинът Юлиан Костов блести на сцената на West End в Лондон" [Bulgarian Julian Kostov shines on the West End stage in London]. OFFNews (in Bulgarian). 2 October 2025. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "Nominations Announced For The 32nd Annual Actor Awards" (Press release). SAG-AFTRA. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  4. ↑ Bussell, Cat (3 November 2023). "Julian Kostov tells us what it's like to play Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3's Makarov: 'My job is to serve this story'". TechRadar. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  5. 1 2 Cordero, Rosy (16 October 2025). "Guillermo Del Toro-Produced 'The Boy In The Iron Box' Netflix Movie Rounds Out Ensemble Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  6. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (11 November 2021). "Maria Bakalova & Julian Kostov Launch Five Oceans Production Company". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "Triumph selected as Bulgaria's Oscar entry". Bulgarian Telegraph Agency. September 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  8. ↑ Kostov, Julian (15 February 2024). "The industry must radically improve Eastern European representation". The Stage. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  9. ↑ Sperberg, Holly (12 October 2023). "Julian Kostov on Creating Opportunities for Balkan Talent". Backstage. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  10. ↑ Ognyanova, Lilia (23 March 2015). "Българската следа в Лондон – актьорът Юлиан Костов". Edna (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  11. ↑ Cholakova, Galina (21 January 2019). "Юлиан Костов: Аз съм болезнен романтик". Rozali (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  12. ↑ "Юлиан Костов". BTV (in Bulgarian). 15 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  13. 1 2 Orsini, Tino (3 March 2018). "The Tino Orsini Show Episode 66 with guest Julian Kostov" (Podcast). Spotify. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  14. 1 2 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.
  15. ↑ Dimova, Tanya (24 April 2017). "Юлиан Костов Не резултатът, а пътят е важен". Bulgarian National Radio (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  16. ↑ Pape, Stefan (20 March 2017). "Another Mother's Son Review". HeyUGuys. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "Julian Kostov talks 'Leatherface' role". Bloody Flicks. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  18. ↑ Petski, Denise (18 December 2019). "'Shadow And Bone': Netflix Series Adds Seven To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  19. ↑ Petski, Denise (18 December 2019). "'Shadow And Bone': Netflix Series Adds Seven To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  20. ↑ ""Literally Perfect for the Role" – Fans Have Full Faith in Julian Kostov". EssentiallySports. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  21. ↑ Hermanns, Grant (10 May 2024). "DCU's Creature Commandos Casts Julian Kostov". Screen Rant. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  22. ↑ "Triumph - TIFF". Toronto International Film Festival. September 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  23. ↑ "Nominations Announced For The 32nd Annual Actor Awards" (Press release). SAG-AFTRA. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  24. ↑ Kroll, Justin (April 2021). "'The Toxic Avenger' Remake Casts Elijah Wood, Peter Dinklage & Others". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  25. ↑ Klein, Brennan (6 May 2025). "Fight Or Flight Review: Josh Hartnett's Formulaic Action Thriller Didn't Wow Me, But It Had Its Moments". Screen Rant. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  26. ↑ Lukowski, Andrzej (1 July 2025). "Till the Stars Come Down review". Time Out London. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  27. ↑ Higgins, Charlotte (15 August 2025). "Sinead Matthews feature". The Stage. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  28. ↑ "Юлиян Костов с роля на Уест Енд в Лондон". Площад Славейков (in Bulgarian). 2025. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  29. ↑ Davis, Clive (July 2025). "Till the Stars Come Down review". The Times. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  30. ↑ "Till the Stars Come Down review". The Stage. July 2025. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  31. ↑ "Review: Till the Stars Come Down". All That Dazzles. July 2025. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  32. ↑ Fischer, Dom (16 July 2020). "'The Dare' Review – Had Me Shouting, "Oh Sh*t!"". Geek Vibes Nation. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  33. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2 February 2021). "Maria Bakalova's Journey From Burgas to 'Borat' & Living the Dream She'd Given Up". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  34. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (25 August 2022). "Maria Bakalova To Headline & Produce 'Triumph' In Her First Bulgarian Movie Following 'Borat' Breakthrough". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  35. ↑ Squires, John (8 February 2017). "We Will Meet Sally and Franklin's Father in Leatherface". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  36. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (16 October 2025). "Guillermo Del Toro-Produced 'The Boy In The Iron Box' Netflix Movie Rounds Out Ensemble Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  37. ↑ Motes, Jax (11 May 2018). "Get Your First Glimpse Of Sky's A Discovery Of Witches TV Series". ScienceFiction.com. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  38. ↑ Packard, Michael (4 May 2021). "Casting Kostov". Drama Quarterly. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  39. ↑ Petski, Denise (18 December 2019). "Shadow And Bone: Netflix Series Adds Seven To Cast". Deadline. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  40. 1 2 3 4 5 "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.
  41. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (6 February 2024). "'The White Lotus': Julian Kostov Joins Season 3 In Recasting". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  42. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (17 August 2023). "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is all in on Modern Warfare 2 nostalgia". Polygon. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  43. ↑ "Julian Kostov – Discography". Spotify. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
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