Filming for the third season of "The White Lotus" has not yet started, but the hit HBO series continues to produce stormy dramas - precisely behind the scenes.
At the end of the week, it was reported that the Serbian-Russian actor Miloš Bykovic (36), who is very famous in Eastern Europe thanks to his appearances in series and films such as "Mechta Shemesh", "Soulless 2", "Alon Hotel" and "Montevideo: Divine Window", will not participate in the end of Talk about the new season of "Lotus" - despite the announcement of his joining the production at the beginning of January.
Milos Bikovich, photo: YouTube
The alleged reason for the quick dismissals: the star's support for Vladimir Putin's regime and the invasion of Ukraine.
The HBO network confirmed the details and released a short and particularly terse statement on the matter, which said: "We have decided to say goodbye to Miloš Biković, and the role will be recast."
Although HBO chose to avoid revealing the reason for the breakup, there is a high probability that the move is related to the much criticism that the controversial casting, to say the least, has received.
In fact, even the Ukrainian government expressed displeasure at HBO's selection of the actor, when the tension reached its peak with an official post by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry from the end of January, which incorporated excerpts from Bykovich's interviews, in which he allegedly supported Russia's control of the Crimean Peninsula.
"Is it okay for you to work with a person who supports genocide and violates international law?" Ukrainians asked HBO in the poignant post.
From the second season of "The White Lotus", photo: courtesy of yes
In 2018, Putin awarded Bykovich the Pushkin Prize - a title given for an extraordinary contribution to Russian culture and art, and already the year after that Ukraine banned the actor's entry into its territory "for reasons of national security" (a decision that Bykovich described at the time as "absurd").
In 2021, the actor, born in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, received Russian citizenship.
Shortly after his dismissal from "The White Lotus", Bikovich released an official statement in which he claimed: "Today I fell victim to an external campaign designed to influence decisions that may create a disturbing precedent that will overshadow the essence of artistic freedom. The result of this narrative is the triumph of the absurd and the defeat of art."
The actor also added: "I was honored to be chosen to be a part of 'The White Lotus,' a series that I value very much. However, my participation is not possible due to reasons that do not originate in the world of art. I will not submit to any narrative that asks me to compromise my integrity."
Natasha Rothwell as Belinda in "The White Lotus", photo: HBO
Despite Bikovich's departure, the third season of "The White Lotus", which will take place in a luxurious Thai resort and is expected to be broadcast next year, will be particularly star-studded.
Among the familiar names that have joined the series and whose roles have not yet been revealed are Walton Goggins ("The Shield", "Private Justice"), the wonderful Carrie Coon ("The Leftovers", "Fargo" and the new pair of "Demon Slayers"), Parker Posey ("Youth Trip ", "Lost in Space"), Jason Isaacs ("Star Trek: Discovery", the "Harry Potter" films), Michelle Monaghan ("True Detective", "The Miracle Worker" and the "Mission: Impossible" films), Amy Lou Wood ("Sex Education") and Patrick Schwarzenegger ("Generation V" and Arnold's Son).
Also, the actress Natasha Rothwell, who played the spa manager Belinda in the first season of "The White Lotus", will return for the new season.
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