RICHARD MADDEN
APRIL 2025
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What’s new this month? |
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Xxx - date |
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Monday 21 April
2025 |
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It was very quiet, with regard to news of
Richard, until the end of March, when Deadline broke the news that the Head
of Amazon MGM Studies had departed her role, leaving Citadel in limbo …
‘Citadel’
Franchise Faces Uncertain Future At Amazon Following Jennifer Salke’s Exit By Nellie Andreeva Co-Editor-in-Chief, TV March 28, 2025 4:44pm The surprise departure Thursday of
Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon MGM Studios,
inevitably is drawing attention to one of her pet projects, global spy
thriller Citadel. Based on an idea by Salke, Citadel was probably the biggest gamble of her
tenure atop Amazon MGM Studios — an ambitious, expansive and expensive
multi-series, multi-country endeavor for which she
brought in the Russo brothers‘ AGBO. Did 007 Tribulations Seal Jennifer Salke’s Fate? Salke’s exit comes with Season 2 of the mothership series, starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, in post-production, and the first
two international spinoff series, the Italian Citadel: Diana and Indian
Citadel: Honey Bunny, awaiting word on their future after launching their
first seasons in September and December, respectively. The main series already has been
facing immense scrutiny over its tortured development and Season 1 production
history that included multiple showrunner changes,
multiple cuts and reshoots that reportedly pushed the budget north of $200
million for six episodes. In light of the sky-high cost and respectable but
not extraordinary ratings performance — Citadel became at the time Prime
Video’s second-most-watched new original series outside the U.S. and
fourth-most-watched worldwide after 24 days of release with modest U.S.
viewership — Amazon’s decision to order a second season caught many by
surprise. It is unclear how quickly decisions
on the two offshoots will be made but plans for other potential spinoffs in
countries like Mexico have been put on hold as the focus is put squarely on
finishing Season 2 of the main series. No cancellation calls are likely until
the mothership series returns. As for Citadel, with the show’s
biggest champion, Salke, gone, it likely will have
to clear a significantly higher bar than Season 1 to earn another renewal. The drama is tracking the story of
spy agency Citadel and its powerful enemy syndicate, Manticore.
Starring alongside Madden and Chopra-Jonas are Stanley Tucci
and Lesley Manville. From Amazon MGM Studios and AGBO,
Citadel is executive produced by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot and Scott Nemes for
AGBO, with David Weil serving as showrunner and
executive producer. 'Citadel' Franchise Faces Uncertain Future At Amazon |
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‘Citadel’ Spinoffs ‘Honey Bunny’ & ‘Diana’ Canceled; Mothership’s Season 2
Gets 2026 Release Window On Prime Video By Nellie Andreeva Nellie Andreeva Co-Editor-in-Chief, TV April 16, 2025 8:02am Amazon is not proceeding with the
Citadel international offshoots Citadel: Honey Bunny and Citadel: Diana,
which will not be returning for second seasons. Meanwhile, the upcoming
second season of the mothership series starring
Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra-Jonas has gotten
a Season 2 premiere window and an official logline. “Having successfully traversed India
and Italy, storylines from both Citadel: Honey Bunny and Citadel: Diana will
be woven into the upcoming second season of the mothership
series Citadel,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios.
“While these successful and widely enjoyed international chapters will not
continue as individual series, Season 2 of Citadel will be our most
exhilarating yet. With high-stakes storytelling, new additions to our amazing
cast and bold, cinematic ambition, the new season will deepen the emotional
journeys of Nadia, Mason and Orlick against the
relentless force that is Manticore. We’re excited
to share what’s next when Citadel Season 2 premieres globally in Q2 of 2026.” The cancellation of the two spinoff
series is not surprising. While they have done well in their local markets,
Citadel: Diana and Citadel: Honey Bunny have not been global breakouts and
have been waiting for word on their fates since launching their first seasons
in September and December, respectively. Additionally, as Deadline reported
last month, plans for other potential spinoffs in countries like Mexico have
been put on hold as the focus is put squarely on finishing Season 2 of the
main series. The Citadel franchise has been under
scrutiny following the recent exit of Amazon MGM Studios head Jennifer Salke, on whose idea it was based. It was probably the
biggest gamble of her tenure — an ambitious, expansive and expensive
multi-series, multi-country endeavor for which she
brought in the Russo brothers‘ AGBO. Season 2 of the mothership
series is currently in post-production. It was targeting a late-2025 delivery
and previously eyeing a Q1 2026 release. It now will debut about three years
after the Season 1 premiere on April 28, 2023. Season 2 is set one month after the
events of the first season. In it, we find our Citadel spies underground, as
they’re being hunted by Manticore agents around the
world. They’re pulled out of hiding to join forces with a new team of
unconventional spies when Manticore’s Brazilian
billionaire Paulo Braga threatens to unleash a cataclysmic piece of
technology, built by Citadel’s own Bernard Orlick,
into the world. The series made headlines with its
tortured development and Season 1 production history that included multiple showrunner changes, multiple cuts and reshoots that
reportedly pushed the budget north of $200 million for six episodes. It
delivered respectable but not extraordinary ratings performance — Citadel
became at the time Prime Video’s second-most-watched new original series
outside the U.S. and fourth-most-watched worldwide after 24 days of release
with modest U.S. viewership.. From Amazon MGM Studios and AGBO,
Citadel is executive produced by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot and Scott Nemes for
AGBO, with David Weil serving as showrunner and
executive producer. Citadel Honey Bunny and Diana cancelled season 2 premiere |
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With
regard to Richard himself, there’s no news regarding a new project … Presumably there will be reshoots for
Citadel season two. The Russo Brothers
are currently engaged on Marvel’s two new Avengers movies, possibly being
filmed back-to-back, which doesn’t leave a lot of availability to finalise
Citadel 2. Richard
has been spotted in London, both at the end of January and earlier this
month, by paparazzi. This being the case, I won’t be publishing the
photographs as I respect his privacy, unlike a number of so-called fans who value
their likes on social media above Richard’s discomfort at being photographed
whilst going about his everyday business. |
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