Wikipedia

Citadel (TV series)

Citadel is an American spy action television series created by Josh Appelbaum, Bryan Oh, and David Weil for Amazon Prime Video, with the Russo brothers acting as executive producers. It stars Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra as Citadel agents Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh, respectively. Kane discovers a new organization, Manticore, led by Dahlia (Lesley Manville), leading to a bad accident. Eight years later, he is living quietly as Kyle Conroy, with his memory wiped, until an old colleague (Stanley Tucci) needs his help.

Citadel
Citadel TV Show Promotional Poster
Release poster
Genre
Created by
ShowrunnerDavid Weil
Directed byNewton Thomas Sigel
Jessica Yu
Starring
ComposerAlex Belcher
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
Production locationUnited Kingdom
Cinematography
  • Newton Thomas Sigel
  • Michael Wood
Running time39–49 minutes
Production companies
Budget$300 million
Original release
NetworkAmazon Prime Video
ReleaseApril 28, 2023 (2023-04-28) –
present
Related

With a production budget of US$300 million, the six-episode first season ranks as one of the most expensive television shows of all time. The first season premiered on April 28, 2023, with its first two episodes. In March 2023, it was renewed for a second season, with Joe Russo announced to direct all the episodes in the season.

Multiple non-English language spin-off shows have been announced, with settings being in the Italian Alps, India, Spain, and Mexico. The Italian series, Citadel: Diana, premiered October 10, 2024, while the Indian series, Citadel: Honey Bunny, premiered November 7, 2024.

Cast

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Main

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  • Richard Madden as
    • Mason Kane: a top-class Citadel spy agent; Nadia's work partner and lover; Asha's father (2023–present)
    • Kyle Conroy: Mason's identity after his memory was erased by Bernard; Abby's husband (2023)[2]
  • Priyanka Chopra as
    • Nadia Sinh: a top-class Citadel spy agent; Mason's work partner and lover; Asha's mother (2023–present)
    • Charlotte Vernon: a restaurant manager in Valencia after her memory was wiped by Bernard (2023)[2]
  • Stanley Tucci as Bernard Orlick (2023–present)[2]

Recurring

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Guests

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Production

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Development

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Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke first came up with the idea for the series and approached the Russo brothers and their independent studio AGBO about creating an ambitious, global spy show in mid-2018. The series was originally a partnership between AGBO and the screenwriting collective Midnight Radio, comprising Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec. Appelbaum and Nemec departed the show during production in 2021, due to creative differences with the Russos. The Russos set up a second editing team and cut an alternate version of the season to compete with the main team, and Amazon chose the Russos' version after focus-group testings. This led to the hiring of David Weil as the new showrunner and extensive reshoots in 2022.[7][8]

As of 2023, Citadel was the second most expensive series of all time with a budget of US$300 million, largely due to the reshoots following Weil's hiring.[9][10] Prime Video renewed the series for a second season on March 14, 2023.[11]

Casting

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Starring alongside Madden and Chopra, Roland Møller will play Laszlo Milla, a lead operative of Citadel's rival intelligence agency, Manticore.[12]

Filming

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Filming on the main series began in January 2021 and wrapped the following December.[13][14] However, reshoots occurred in early and mid-2022 under the supervision of Weil, the Russos, and director Thomas Sigel.[7]

Episodes

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Season 1 (2023)

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"The Human Enigma"Newton Thomas SigelTeleplay by : David Weil
Story by : Josh Appelbaum & Bryan Oh and David Weil		April 28, 2023 (2023-04-28)
Citadel spies Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh are presumed killed during a mission in Italy when they are ambushed by Manticore agents. Eight years later, Mason, with no memory of his previous identity, lives a quiet life as Kyle Conroy with his wife and daughter. When Citadel agent Bernard Orlick learns that he is alive, and that Manticore agent Dahlia Archer is after a top-secret Citadel X case, Orlick abducts Kyle and his family, reveals Kyle's past to him, and persuades him to help retrieve the case to keep its potentially world-altering data out of Manticore's hands.
2"Spies Appear In Night Time"Newton Thomas SigelDavid Weil and Bryan OhApril 28, 2023 (2023-04-28)
Nadia too survived the Italy mission. While escaping, she is held captive by an Italian man; she manages to kill him and escape, but her memory is remotely wiped out by Orlick. Eight years later, Mason retrieves the Citadel X case, but Orlick is captured by Archer's men. After discovering that Nadia is alive, Mason contacts her, helping her regain her memory through a serum in the case.
3"Infinite Shadows"Newton Thomas Sigel
Jessica Yu		David Weil and Melissa GlennMay 5, 2023 (2023-05-05)
Mason's vulnerable and confused state makes him susceptible to false stories and propaganda, leading to the question of whether he will trust Nadia or if they will go their separate ways after the crucial mission.
4"Tell Her Everything"Newton Thomas Sigel
Jessica Yu		Teleplay by : Josh Appelbaum & Bryan Oh and David Weil
Story by : Josh Appelbaum & Bryan Oh		May 12, 2023 (2023-05-12)
In Morocco, Mason and Nadia enter the Manticore Black Site to rescue Carter. They tackle an army of unnamed goons, with Nadia taking the lead. However, Mason is still rusty in battle, as his memories and previous skills were lost forever. He nervously follows Nadia’s direction. They quickly make their way to Carter’s cell. The traumatized prisoner looks up at Mason and blames him for this incarceration. The series then jumps back to ten years earlier. Mason and Nadia are living it up in Paris, where they are slowly falling in love with one another. Nadia informs Mason that a new agent is joining the team. She worked with this spy before, and the agent ended up saving Nadia’s life.
5"Time Renders Us Enemies"Newton Thomas SigelTeleplay by : David Weil and Bryan Oh
Story by : David Weil and Bryan Oh & Angela Russo-Otstot		May 19, 2023 (2023-05-19)
Mason learns that Nadia has a secret daughter, shaking the trust between them. As they confront their complicated past, Bernard helps them stay ahead of Manticore. With loyalties in question, the line between ally and enemy grows increasingly blurred, pushing them closer to uncovering Citadel’s true downfall.
6"Secrets in Night Need Early Rains"Newton Thomas SigelJosh Appelbaum & Bryan OhMay 26, 2023 (2023-05-26)
Mason, Nadia, and Carter retrieve nuclear cores from a submarine, hoping to trade them for Mason and Nadia’s daughter, Asha. The tense exchange in Valencia leads to a firefight, but Mason saves Asha just in time. Dahlia Archer fakes her death after failing Manticore. Mason regains his lost memories, discovering he was manipulated into betraying Citadel, believing it would protect his family.

Music

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Alex Belcher composed the first season, while Henry Jackman served as score producer. Sony Classical released the soundtrack.[15]

Citadel (Prime Video Original Series Soundtrack)[15]
No.TitleLength
1."Citadel (Main Title Theme)"1:19
2."The Train"3:37
3."Bathroom Brawl"4:45
4."Derailed"3:38
5."Amnesia"2:21
6."I Deserve to Know"1:50
7."Family"1:50
8."Taken"1:07
9."The Brothers"0:54
10."Dahlia Interviewed"1:34
11."A Myth"2:22
12."Backstory"2:48
13."Backwoods Kidnapping"1:45
14."Backstop"2:20
15."It's Time"2:12
16."Exceedingly Untrustworthy"3:44
17."Message to Abbey"1:20
18."Valencia"0:50
19."You're Nadia"1:11
20."Did You Just Throw a Knife?"1:15
21."Nadia Back with a Vengeance"4:14
22."Captured"1:42
23."Stitched Up"3:15
24."Ski Sequence"4:40
25."They Meet"2:03
26."Quite a Story"1:39
27."Nadia & Mason"1:13
28."Blacksite"1:08
29."Rescue Mission"2:31
30."Kiss & Tell"2:22
31."The New Tier 1"4:49
32."Interrogated"5:00
33."You Only Get One Soul"3:47
34."You Did This"2:46
35."What if It Was Real?"1:08
36."Headshot"1:32
37."Did He Know?"1:29
38."Can a Spy Truly Love?"4:01
39."Goodbye"2:07
40."The Truth"3:35
41."The Bracelet"2:21
42."Red Cell Mission"5:14
43."A Seat at the Table"1:54
44."Deactivating the Cores"4:32
45."Reuniting"2:14
46."A Favor"6:39
Total length:120:37

Release

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The six-episode series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 28, 2023, with its first two episodes.[16]

Spin-offs

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Citadel will include spin-off shows in different languages set in the Italian Alps, India, Spain, and Mexico.[17][18][19][20]

The Italian series, titled Citadel: Diana, is produced by Cattleya, part of ITV Studios, and was released in 2024.[21] At the end of season 1 of Citadel, there was a trailer for Citadel: Diana. The series was aired on October 9, 2024.[22]

The Indian series, titled Citadel: Honey Bunny, starring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, was directed by Raj & DK and revolves around the story of Honey and Bunny, who are the parents of the character Nadia Sinh. It premiered on November 7, 2024.[23][24][25]

Reception

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Critical response

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The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 51% approval rating with an average rating of 5.7/10, based on 80 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Citadel spares no expense but still feels underdeveloped, yielding a fairly fun spy caper that nonetheless creaks under the weight of its own exorbitance."[26] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 51 out of 100 based on 29 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[27] The Economist called it "a big-budget, low-imagination thriller with plenty of explosions and no surprises."[28]

Accolades

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Citadel was nominated for two awards at the 22nd Visual Effects Society Awards.[29]

References

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  1. ^ French, Andrew (March 9, 2021). "Amazon drama Citadel starring Richard Madden filming in Oxford". Oxford Mail. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Andreeva, Nellie (February 27, 2023). "Citadel Sets Premiere Date; First Look At Amazon Global Spy Series Reveals Lesley Manville Casting". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Nellie Andreeva (August 2, 2024). "'Citadel' Adds Matt Berry & Gabriel Leone To Season 2 Cast". Deadline Hollywood.
  4. ^ a b c Joe Otterson (August 5, 2024). "'Citadel' Season 2 Casts Merle Dandridge, Rahul Kohli, Michael Trucco". Variety.com.
  5. ^ Joe Otterson (May 29, 2024). "Citadel Season 2 Adds Jack Reynor to Cast (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.com.
  6. ^ a b Campbell, Christopher (April 7, 2023). "Citadel Cast & Character Guide". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Kit, Borys (September 1, 2022). "Russo Bros.' Amazon Series 'Citadel' Creative Overhaul Balloons Budget to $200M-Plus (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  8. ^ Shaw, Lucas (July 5, 2023). "Amazon CEO Asks His Hollywood Studio to Explain Its Big Spending". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  9. ^ Colangelo, B. J. (September 1, 2022). "Amazon Is Spending Over $200 Million On The Russo Bros. Series Citadel Due To Expensive Reshoots". /Film. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  10. ^ Masters, Kim (April 3, 2023). "Inside Amazon Studios: Big Swings Hampered by Confusion and Frustration". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  11. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (March 14, 2023). "'Citadel,' Amazon's Pricey and Troubled Drama, Renewed for Season 2 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (September 3, 2020). "'Citadel': Roland Møller Cast In Amazon's Russo Brothers International Event Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  13. ^ "Priyanka Chopra Jonas spotted filming for her upcoming series Citadel with Richard Madden - BeautyPageants". Femina Miss India. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  14. ^ "That's a wrap! PeeCee finishes filming for Amazon Studios series 'Citadel'". The Economic Times. December 13, 2021. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "'Citadel' Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. April 27, 2023. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  16. ^ Ford, Rebecca (February 27, 2023). "'Citadel': Amazon's Big Bet for a Global TV Franchise". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  17. ^ Topel, Fred (January 15, 2020). "Amazon Announces 'Citadel,' a Spy Series From the Russo Brothers Starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra". SlashFilm. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  18. ^ Petski, Denise (January 14, 2020). "Priyanka Chopra J & Richard Madden To Star In 'Citadel', Amazon's Russo Brothers International Event Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 15, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  19. ^ "València, epicentro de la nueva serie de Amazon". Levante-EMV (in Spanish). September 23, 2021. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  20. ^ Akingbade, Tobi (January 16, 2020). "When is Citadel released on Amazon and who's in the cast with Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra?". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  21. ^ "Italian Chapter Of 'Citadel' Spyverse Franchise Gets Official Title, First-Look At Lead Matilda De Angelis". Deadline Hollywood. May 26, 2023. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  22. ^ "Prime Video Rilis Official First Look Serial Citadel: Diana". May 27, 2023. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  23. ^ "Samantha Ruth Prabhu drops pictures with Varun Dhawan, Raj and DK as they finish a schedule of 'Citadel'". The Times of India. March 9, 2023. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  24. ^ Das, Anoushka. "Citadel: 7 Things To Know About The Spy Series". She The People. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  25. ^ "'Citadel': Varun Dhawan To Star In Indian Series Set In Amazon Franchise". Deadline Hollywood. December 20, 2022. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  26. ^ "Citadel: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  27. ^ "Citadel: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  28. ^ "A golden age of TV is losing its shine". The Economist. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  29. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (January 16, 2024). "'The Creator' Leads Visual Effects Society Feature Competition With 7 Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
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