Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden spearheaded the highly anticipated 2023 launch of Citadel, Amazon’s ambitious attempt to create a global spy series.
The show set the stage for a wider universe, including global spin-offs, despite production issues. Both the Italian edition, Citadel: Diana, which was headlined by Matilda De Angelis, and the Indian chapter, Citadel: Honey Bunny, which starred Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Varun Dhawan, debuted in 2024. With these improvements, it was hoped that Citadel would grow into a major force on a worldwide scale.
However, Amazon MGM Studios has now pulled the plug on both international spin-offs, even as it confirms that the second season of the original Citadel series is officially on the way. Initially expected to premiere in 2025, the sophomore season has now been pushed to 2026.
Vernon Sanders, Head of Television at Amazon MGM Studios, told Deadline that the narratives from Citadel: Honey Bunny and Citadel: Diana will now be incorporated into the second season of the main series. “The Indian and Italian shows will not continue as individual series,” he said, but promised that the upcoming season will be the most thrilling yet, saying it will be their “most exhilarating” season to date.
Filming for season two has already wrapped up, but the three-year gap between seasons and lukewarm reception of the spin-offs led to ongoing speculation about the franchise’s future. Reports suggest that Citadel: Diana and Citadel: Honey Bunny failed to resonate with international audiences, casting doubt over their longevity soon after their premieres.
Citadel: Mexico and other planned spin-offs have likewise been placed on indefinite hold. The Hollywood Reporter reported a few days ago that the studio is “not happy” with the way Citadel’s second season has developed thus far. According to insiders, Amazon is unhappy with the new series’ creative direction and material.
Since the resignation of Jennifer Salke, the former head of Amazon MGM Studios, who had supported the Citadel universe while in charge, the ambiguity surrounding the series has only grown. The series was originally intended to be Amazon’s response to the James Bond brand, but its future now seems uncertain, particularly since the Bond franchise is now owned by the same company.
