Currently filmed in Bulgaria: 'One Second After'
Published: 06.10.2025
Reading time: 2.7 minutes
Principal photography on 'One Second After' is nearing completion in Bulgaria, marking another major international project choosing our country as its creative and logistical base.
The film, produced by MPI Original Films with local production services provided by Solent Film, is a post-apocalyptic thriller based on William R. Forstchen’s best-selling novel of the same name.
What's known about the plot
As per the film's official IMDb page, the story imagines how a small town in Western North Carolina struggles to survive after an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) wipes out nearly all electricity across North America.
According to Deadline, the film stars Josh Holloway in the lead role, alongside Hannah John-Kamen and Famke Janssen, with Scott Rogers making his feature directing debut.
Rogers is a veteran stunt coordinator and second unit director whose credits include Spider-Man 2 and 3, John Wick: Chapter 4, The Matrix Resurrections, Mulan, Uncharted, and many more.
Rogers' transition to the director’s chair brings an action-focused sensibility to the adaptation, promising a film that balances tension, realism, and high-stakes physical storytelling.
For Bulgaria’s film community, One Second After is not just another foreign shoot but a demonstration of the country’s ability to host complex, large-scale productions while maintaining high international standards.
The decision to shoot in Sofia and its surrounding regions highlights both the visual flexibility of the landscape and the economic advantages that continue to attract Hollywood and European producers alike.
A notable presence on the cast is the Sofia-based actor Nathan Cooper (The Toxic Avenger, Animal Friends).
Cooper represents a growing group of foreign professionals who have made Bulgaria their home base, bridging the gap between U.S. productions and local creative networks.
His participation reflects the deepening integration between international and local talent that has become essential to the country’s continued success in the global film market. While the exact details of his role as 'Frank' remain unknown, Cooper's flexibility and versatile performances promise an immersive and captivating experience for the audience.
Behind the camera, Rogers has assembled a team that mirrors his action pedigree. His years coordinating some of Hollywood’s most demanding stunts inform the film’s approach to physical storytelling, giving One Second After an authenticity that stems from practical effects and grounded choreography.
While the novel’s setting is distinctly American, Bulgaria’s diverse locations: mountain towns, open countryside, and historic architecture, are standing in convincingly for the Appalachian region. This seamless transformation is a testament to the skill of local art departments, location scouts, and set designers, whose work has enabled Bulgaria to serve as a chameleon-like backdrop for stories set around the world.
From the perspective of TalentNews, the project also serves as a reminder that Sofia continues to evolve not only as a cost-efficient shooting destination but as a creative partner in shaping the future of global filmmaking.
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