Fresh off launching a global spy franchise for Netflix with The Grey Man, the Russo Bros are at it again with the global launch of Citadel, a big-budget spy show the duo is producing for Prime Video. The studio has finally unveiled the first trailer for this massive production which is to spawn global spin-offs, with instalments (that are already filming) set for Italy and India.
The series stars Game of Thrones and Eternals vet Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as two former spies who work for the titular organization. As per the official synopsis:
Eight years ago, Citadel fell. The independent global spy agency—tasked to uphold the safety and security of all people—was destroyed by operatives of Manticore, a powerful syndicate manipulating the world from the shadows. With Citadel’s fall, elite agents Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) had their memories wiped as they narrowly escaped with their lives. They’ve remained hidden ever since, building new lives under new identities, unaware of their pasts. Until one night, when Mason is tracked down by his former Citadel colleague, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), who desperately needs his help to prevent Manticore from establishing a new world order. Mason seeks out his former partner, Nadia, and the two spies embark on a mission that takes them around the world in an effort to stop Manticore, all while contending with a relationship built on secrets, lies, and a dangerous-yet-undying love.
The series, which co-stars Stanely Tucci and Leslie Manville recently had a global event for the trailer, in which Anthony and Joe Russo outlined their vision for the franchise.
“This is a really unique television event and I think that’s what excites Anthony and I the most about it,” stated Joe Russo. “The concept was an idea that Jen Salke presented to us a few years ago. The notion of telling a story that could be interwoven throughout the world. It would have a flagship show and then regional shows. You know, written, produced and directed by regional talent that could interweave with the flagship show. And we thought that, one, that was such a novel idea for a narrative. And, two, an amazing way to create a really diverse global community of storytellers to tell a giant mosaic of a narrative together. And after our work on the Marvel films and spending so much time traveling the globe, this was an idea I think that was really exciting to Anthony and I and ignitable for us. And seemed like an incredible challenge.”
For Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who in addition to her work in North American has as a long career as the lead in Bollywood blockbusters, Citadel was a unique challenge:
“I think the show has so many layers and complexities and there’s a word that we used from the beginning which was duality for every character. What you see is what you don’t get. Don’t believe what you see. Everything is just conceptually crazy. And it’s just so exciting to be able to share it with the world because it’s been a long time in the making because it’s so ambitious. And I’m very excited about it.”
While co-star Richard Madden has experience in action with Game of Thrones, his hit series Bodyguard and Eternals, Citadel is a different experience:
“There’s huge set pieces in this, and that’s something that’s amazing to be part of. And not only that, but I think oftentimes, we see shows that are 80 percent drama, 20 percent action or vice versa. And this show aimed to be 100 percent of both. And I think that’s what we’ve managed to pull off ‘cause in the middle of these huge sequences with explosions and cars blowing up and all of that that I don’t want to spoil for you, we have this really kind of intimate drama between these two characters and how they dance together. So, for me, that’s what was so exciting about these huge action pieces was that they are infused with heart and drama and storytelling. We get to see a lot about these characters, how they physically interact, not just great action sequences but there’s drama at the heart of each one of them.”
Citadel premieres on Prime Video on April 28th with two episodes. Weekly episodes will follow until the finale on May 26th.
Are you looking forward to Citadel?