Prime Video has decided: the ambitious spy franchise Citadel, led by directors Anthony and Joe Russo (Avengers: Endgame), will not experience the international expansion dreamed of by Amazon. The two spin-offs, Citadel: Honey Bunny and Citadel: Diana, are officially canceled after only one season, despite relatively decent audiences.
A global ambition halted
Launched in 2023, Citadel was to become the foundation of an extended universe, as ambitious as the MCU, with spin-off series produced around the world. Prime Video had already invested colossal resources in its project, with a first season with a budget of more than $230 million. Unfortunately, after a critical reception and mixed success, Amazon had to scale back its ambitions. While Honey Bunny and Diana were able to attract local audiences - the first having become the most-watched series on Prime Video in India upon its launch, the second achieving a record start in Italy - they have failed to establish themselves internationally.
A very (very) expensive production
With an estimated budget of 235 million dollars, Citadel was one of the most expensive projects in the history of the small screen. However, Amazon had not initially planned to spend such a large sum on the Russo brothers' project. The departure of half of the creative team following creative disputes, and the need to carry out several reshoots after an initial phase of filming has significantly inflated the bill for the e-commerce giant.
Good news for the main series
To avoid a sudden break, Amazon has chosen to integrate the plots of these spin-offs into the main series. Season 2, expected in the second quarter of 2026, promises a high-stakes story, new faces in the cast, and a renewed cinematic ambition. Let's just hope it lives up to expectations. The first batch of episodes left us only moderately convinced, and Citadel: Diana was a real disappointment. With a big budget, Amazon isn't abandoning Citadel, but isn't giving it the space to stand on its own two feet either. The desire to compete with the MCU in the hearts of fans seems a long way off, but the date is set for spring 2026 to find out if the saga will bounce back and convince.
0 Comments