RICHARD MADDEN
JANUARY 2024
|
What’s new this month? |
|
Xxx - date |
|
Sunday 21
January 2024 |
|
Good news
and bad news today … It has
been reported that Citadel series 2 will commence production this coming
September … But the bad news is that it will be
based in Toronto, Amazon having come to an agreement with Pinewood Studios
Toronto to rent studio space for their productions for the foreseeable
future. And, of course, take advantage of the tax breaks in Canada too. So the production is not to be based
in California after all, which was reported last April as the plan, the
reason also given for this initial relocation being tax breaks. And the big
question is, why has the UK become so undesirable as their base … have our
tax breaks reduced, do we not have enough studio space despite building so
many sound stages in the past few years? Citadel series 1 was based at Bray,
which is also in the process of expanding. Citadel series 1 was plagued by
problems, which began with a delay caused by the pandemic, and ended with
expensive reshoots in Atlanta reportedly caused by creative differences
between the Russo brothers and the team originally tasked, by them, of
bringing it to our screens. So, presumably, Canada now offers the least
expensive option for series 2 ... not London or California. Joe Russo is going to direct it this
time, according to reports – but the Russo’s are never afraid to overspend on
budget. Also, can they use footage which was shot for the first series, but
never used, such as the fire service-related scenes shot in Oxford? They
barely used the footage they shot in Birmingham, either … Shepperton Studios
in Surrey is also run the Pinewood Group, and Amazon already leases a lot of
space there … But the biggest question of all is,
when will Richard come home to the UK to work? Deep down, I’m still very upset that
I didn’t get to see him last April, in London, for the Global Premiere of
Citadel. It was not because I didn’t make the effort, as I put in a lot of
groundwork as I always do and walked miles trying to find clues to the venue,
but solely because fans weren’t included in the arrangements by Prime UK. And
fans got to see him in Rome, and in LA, for their respective premieres, which
hurt even more. The show was a huge global success …
but not as popular in the US … There is an Italian spinoff due to
premiere in 2024, and an Indian spinoff too – I wonder if Richard will attend
the premieres of those, as the actors from those shows were invited to the
Global premiere in London … unlike the fans … Anyway, I have to carry on …
continuing in full-time employment, to finance any future visits to London …
to see Richard … despite having already reached retirement age … Cinemablend: Citadel Season 2 Begins Filming in Toronto in
September By Harsh Vardhan January 19, 2024
Production for
Season 2 of ‘Citadel’ for Prime Video is set to commence in Toronto in
September. In the Season 1 finale of Citadel, Mason Kane’s
tumultuous journey takes a dark turn as the truth about his actions unfolds.
With the revelation that Dahlia, the leader of Manticore,
is Mason’s estranged mother, the story explores his traumatic past and the
shocking secrets buried within Citadel. Mason’s quest for justice leads him
to expose Citadel’s war crimes, but the consequences are dire as Dahlia uses
the information to eliminate Citadel spies. As Mason reconnects with Nadia
and confronts the organization’s dark past, the season concludes with a
dramatic rescue mission, the revelation of hidden identities, and the
unsettling prospect of a manipulated reality. The gripping finale sets the
stage for a compelling and mysterious continuation in the upcoming season.
As ‘Citadel‘ Season 2 approaches, the plot remains shrouded in
mystery, leaving fans with lingering questions from the dramatic revelations
in the first season’s finale. Mason Kane’s journey is poised to delve deeper
into his recovered memories and explore the intricate dynamics with his newly
revealed mother, Dahlia. The complexity of Mason’s role as a mole and his
connection to Citadel will unfold, bringing a heightened sense of suspense
and intrigue. The revelation of Mason’s fatherhood to Nadia adds another
layer of complexity, amplifying the stakes for their relationship with the
presence of their child. While the Season 1 finale provided answers, it also
spawned new questions, ensuring a captivating narrative in the upcoming
season. The fate of Bernard, last seen in Dahlia’s clutches, promises its own
storyline, contributing to the suspenseful narrative awaiting viewers in
‘Citadel’ Season 2. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is set to
return as Nadia Sinh, alongside Richard Madden
returning as Mason Kane/Kyle Conroy in ‘Citadel‘
Season 2. Stanley Tucci will also make a
comeback as Bernard Orlick and Lesley Manville will
continue to portray the formidable Manticore
leader, Dahlia Archer. While supporting cast details are yet to be revealed,
potential returning actors include Osy Ikhile as Carter Spence, Ashleigh Cummings as Abby
Conroy/Celeste Graham, Caoilinn Springhall
as Hendrix Conroy, Roland Møller as Anders/Davik Silje, Nikki Amuka-Bird as Grace, and Moira Kelly as Joe. The upcoming
season could also bring in new characters and could see a crossover from the
spinoff series. ‘Citadel’ is helmed by an executive production team led by Anthony
Russo, Joe Russo, Mike Larocca, Angela Russo-Otstot, and Scott Nemes for
AGBO. David Weil assumes the role of showrunner and
executive producer, while Midnight Radio’s executive producers include Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg. Additionally, Newton Thomas
Sigel and Patrick Moran contribute as executive producers to the series. The
production for season 2 is slated to begin in Toronto in September. The city
recently served as the backdrop for productions like ‘Priscilla‘
and ‘Dream Scenario.’ And here
is the original link: Citadel Season 2 Begins Filming in Toronto in September
(thecinemaholic.com) I read
this article last week, which links in with the Toronto scenario: Amazon
MGM Studios Plans Toronto Production Hub With Five
Stages Leased From Pinewood Group (Exclusive)
Amazon MGM Studios has signed a lease for 160,000 square feet
of new soundstages and office space at Pinewood Toronto Studios to establish
a Canadian production hub. Amazon has had a presence in Canada since 2015 and Prime Video is home
to shows like Reacher and The Boys, both of
which are shot in and around Toronto. The deal with Pinewood Group marks the
major studio’s first long-term commitment for Canadian studio space as Amazon
MGM Studios raises its game in Hollywood’s content arms race. Amazon MGM Studios will secure exclusive use of five new sound stages
alongside workshops and office space that totals 160,000 square feet. “Pinewood Group is an industry leader and with the Toronto region’s
best-in-class crews, this agreement offers us immense opportunity for the
continued expansion of film and series projects in Toronto, Ontario, and
Canada,” Dan Scharf, vp
of global business operations at Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement on
Wednesday. Pinewood Group, which runs Pinewood Studios in the U.K., in May 2023 acquired
full ownership of Pinewood Toronto Studios, a film and TV
studio that already had its name on the marquee due to a sales and management
deal with the facility’s former Canadian owners that began in 2009.
“This
landmark agreement further strengthens our relationship with Amazon MGM
Studios and demonstrates our joint commitment to the City of Toronto. We are
very much looking forward to working together and welcoming many incredible
productions to the Pinewood Toronto Studio lot,” Paul Golding, chairman of
Pinewood Group, added in his own statement. Buying
full control of Pinewood Toronto Studios also followed the UK studio operator
selling its stake in Pinewood Atlanta to local partners in 2019. For Amazon
MGM Studios, shifting more of its film and TV series to Toronto for
production will enable access to generous tax credits and currency
savings from shooting in Canada. That comes as major Hollywood
entertainment players continue to trim their content expenditures, including
Amazon last week indicating it will cut hundreds of jobs in
its Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios division. Amazon MGM Studios is also looking
to burnish its commitment to Canada - where it has shot local series
like Upload, The
Lake and Three
Pines, and unscripted productions like All or Nothing: Toronto Maple
Leafs - just as the studio continues to negotiate
with the federal government over how much it will subsidize local
content after Canada’s Online Streaming Bill became law. Elsewhere in Amazon’s Canadian
orbit, MGM Television and MGM+ Studios have produced and commissioned over 40
series and films that shot north of the border. That includes Gen V and The Handmaid’s Tale in
Ontario; Fargo and Billy The Kid shot
in Alberta; The Man
in the High Castle and Upload produced in Vancouver; Tales from the Loop in
Manitoba; and parts of Tom
Clancy’s Jack Ryan and The Voyeurs lensed in Quebec. In the UK, Amazon Prime Video in
2022 did a deal with the Pinewood Group’s Shepperton
Studios to lease newly expanded facilities totaling
around 450,000 square feet and comprising nine soundstages, workshops and
office space. Link to
the original article: |
|
Tuesday 02
January 2024 |
|
No sooner had I written yesterday’s blog, than a
couple of new selfies appeared online; Richard has been
celebrating the New Year in Cancun, Mexico! A creature of habit, Richard spends New Year in
Mexico on a regular basis; treating his parents to a winter-break I believe. He’s pictured here with singer Jiry Corchado and Blue Shoes
Music.
It’s
strange that so many people still associate Richard with Game of Thrones,
rather than more recent projects ... but I guess that’s because I found him
in 2018 because of Bodyguard. |
|
Monday 01
January 2024 |
|
Happy New
Year! It’s still
very, very quiet in Madden World … I presume we are waiting for Citadel 2 to
go into production, in California.
It’s very sad that filming won’t be based in the UK like the first
series was. Here are a
couple of photos which were posted on social media since I last blogged in
October: The first
is courtesy of Joe Kennard, who has been Richard’s stunt double on Citadel …
and Eternals … and the CK Defy advert.
And Richard being introduced to the crowd at the
LA Chargers game on 01 October, courtesy of @alejandro_uzumakii. Richard was accompanied to the game by Duncan Millership from management company Anonymous Content.
Richard was spotted in London on the run up to
Christmas … so, presumably, he spent the Christmas and New Year period with
family and friends. |
RETURN TO RICHARD MADDEN BLOG INDEX
RETURN TO RICHARD MADDEN SUB-INDEX PAGE