Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden starrer Citadel was launched with a lot of hype in 2023, despite its troubled production. The Indian spin-off Citadel: Honey Bunny, starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Varun Dhawan, and the Italian spin-off Citadel: Diana, starring Matilda De Angelis, released in 2024 and it was expected that these will turn the world of Citadel into a global property but now, Amazon MGM Studios has announced the cancellation of the Indian and the Italian spin-offs. This comes with the release announcement of the second season of the mothership show. Previously expected to release in 2025, the show will now release in 2026.
The head of television of Amazon MGM Studios, Vernon Sanders, told Deadline that the storylines of Citadel: Honey Bunny and Citadel: Diana will be woven into the second season of Citadel. He added that the Indian and Italian shows “will not continue as individual series” but added that the second season of Priyanka’s Citadel will be their “most exhilarating” season yet. The filming of the second season of the show has been wrapped already. The second season will premiere three years after the debut season.
As per the report, Citadel: Diana and Citadel: Honey Bunny did not make a mark globally, and ever since their premiere last year, their future had been uncertain. The production of other spin-offs, like Citadel: Mexico, has also been on hold.
It was only a few days ago that The Hollywood Reporter reported that the makers are “not happy” with how the show’s second season has been turning out. Insiders told the publication that the studio is not satisfied with what they have seen so far in the second season. The show’s future has been in jeopardy ever since the exit of Jennifer Salke, former Head of Amazon MGM Studios, who put it together during her tenure at the studio. It was then said that with Citadel, Amazon was trying to make their version of James Bond but with the Bond franchise becoming a part of the studio now, it seems unlikely that they would push this series.
The first season of Citadel ran into many troubles before its debut in 2023. With multiple reshoots, change in showrunners and other production troubles, the show’s budget went over $200 million for its six-episodes, making it one of the most expensive shows ever produced.
