A year after Prime Video and the Russo brothers teamed up to make an ambitious project Citadel franchise is coming to life, the premiere of the first spin-off is ready. Citadel: Diana. While 2023 Citadel starring two famous US actors (Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden), Citadel: Diana is expanding into Italy and at the center of its history is presenting respected European artists. It will soon be followed by another spin-off set in India. Citadel: Cute Bunnywhich focuses on the past.
Citadel: DianaThe title character is played by Matilda De Angelis, and in the recent trailer she is introduced as a Citadel recruit tasked with taking down a crime family. To achieve her goal, which carries personal motives, she must team up with the heiress of Manticore (a rival organization represented in Citadel Season 1). The show begins in 2030 and thus will certainly reveal clues about the fate of the Citadel after its fall in the first season.
On-screen rant interviewed two of the world’s executive producers CitadelDavid Weil and Angela Russo-Otstot on what fans can expect from the upcoming spin-offs, especially the futuristic one Citadel: Diana. The duo also hinted at their plans for a potential universe ending, as well as whether they’re willing to explore the roots (or restoration) of the infamous organization.
Citadel: Diana and Citadel: Sweet Bunny – a chance to admire filmmakers from all over the world
“It’s no coincidence that these exquisite directors come from countries that have such a rich history of cinema.”
Screen Rant: I’m extremely fascinated by how you decided to expand Citadel Universe. We move forward in time with Diana in Italy and we go back in time with Cute bunny in India. I’m curious how you chose these places and time periods for the next chapters?
Angela Russo-Otstot: We started by thinking about employees. We wanted this to be a global enterprise and we had tremendous support from Prime Video to embrace it as a truly global enterprise. We knew that we would have to find partners who were as collaborative and open as we were because it would really require an increased level of communication, openness and organization.
It all started with the identification of Krishna DK, Raja Nidimoru and Sita R. Menon. [for Honey Bunny] and Gina Gardini and [ITV Studios-owned] Cattleya [for Diana]who were directors we admired. We loved their work and felt they would be incredible partners and collaborators. This is what organically led us to Italy and India, and I think it is no coincidence that these exquisite directors come from countries that have such a rich history of cinema. This is the first.
When it comes to timing, it really goes both ways. We look at the great story that David laid out in season one and think about these characters and the interesting and complex issues they face. There was a sense that there was a lot of rich and fertile territory to be mined with Nadya as a child, knowing that her mother had also grown up as a spy. And it seemed like there was a lot of rich territory to be mined on the Manticore side because it had just been introduced but not yet fully explored.
But we also wanted to think about how to surprise not only ourselves, but also the audience. The time frame we’re in really gave the filmmakers the opportunity to use stylistic choices that excited them. In Diana we have a sort of futuristic sci-fi feel, and in Honey Bunny we have a grounded analogue feel. I think it gives the audience a nice variety or diversity of experience from all angles.
There’s plenty of room for more timelines in The Citadel, and Season 2 could look at rebuilding the organization
“We definitely have solutions in mind for certain character arcs…”
Screen Rant: Given that these are different time periods, can these new stories continue on their own, or are they truly separate stories or chapters?
David Weil: They can continue. I think that’s the beauty of this whole grand experiment we’re doing with the Citadel. We can travel back and forth in time; we may learn something new about a character from the past that will affect the future, or something in the future that we then may see in the past. We are open to all of this.
Screen Rant: As the timeline potentially expands, and even at the beginning of that process, how far ahead are you planning and what locations might become focal points for the next stories we’ll see?
David Weil: We always dream, and what excites us are the incredible characters and the actors who play those characters. What Gina does with Diana and Cattalya, and what DK, Raj and Sita do with Honey Bunny. If we fall in love with a character from their show, it inspires us: “Oh, can we take them here?”
We’re always thinking about these things, but for now we’re just really excited to bring these two series to the world and work on season two of Citadel US.
Screen Rant: I have to ask, since my imagination is so captured when they hint at the birth of the Citadel organization, will we ever see it? Or is it too far in the past?
Angela Russo-Otstot: Oh, that would be so fun to see. And obviously we are willing to use different time frames.
Screen Rant: I also find it interesting that the point of entry into the Citadel is the destruction of this organization. When you started creating this universe, did you have a spy-verse ending in mind?
David Weil: Look, we definitely have solutions in mind for certain arcs and character ideas, but we also want to be very open. What’s so great about this process is that it’s such an open collaboration, so we want to leave room for that inspiration or something that DK and Raj come up with that can then inform the grand plan of this entire universe.
We definitely have a lot of ideas, but we always want to be very flexible about what it could be.
Angela Russo-Otstot: I think it’s something that excites us as filmmakers and also Anthony and Joe [Russo] Of course, we also adhere to this principle: we want to surprise ourselves and surprise the public. From your point of view, the collapse of this organization seemed to me a very unexpected beginning. And then, according to David, if we talk openly about where we can go, it gives us the opportunity to continue to surprise ourselves.
Screen Rant: You’re on the creative side of this, but if you can come out of this as an observer and fan of the show, do you think this organization needs to be rebuilt to take on Manticore? Or is it what it is and it’s character-driven?
Angela Russo-Otstot: I mean, that’s a great question.
David Weil: Watch the second season.
Angela Russo-Otstot: We could look into that.
The Citadel Universe considers family its beating heart.
“It’s a really emotional and character-driven story about people who have to live as liars.”
Screen Rant: When I think about Citadel story, now having seen three that continue, I’m thinking about the factions in the background and the use of time as a mechanic to tell these stories. And most of all I think about family and children. What would you say is the key element?
David Weil: You laid out all three of those ingredients so beautifully. Yes, that’s perfect.
Angela Russo-Otstot: That’s really wonderful.
David Weil: Heartbeat is family. I think it’s a really emotional and character-driven story about people who have to live as liars. Spies have to live a lie, and if so, will you ever be able to live a truthful life? Is it possible to have true love? How do you parent in this situation? These are the conflicts that we really wanted to explore and that we were able to bring to life in this long-form spy narrative.
Screen Rant: Speaking of kids and family, are there any characters I can trust right now?
David Weil: Children can usually be trusted. Yes, they are the most honest.
Angela Russo-Otstot: It also depends on where they grow. Because we see some children, and their future selves in these stories may not be credible.
Screen Rant: We’ll see the beginning in the coming weeks Citadel: Diana and then Cute bunny. This is a very exciting time. What are you most looking forward to getting from fans when these release?
David Weil: Oh my God. All.
Angela Russo-Otstot: Great work by Gina and Cattalya, and by DK, Raj and Sita. They have everything we have always admired and connected with, and we know that many others have it too. We hope that more people can see what they can do as artists. I think they’re all really incredible.
We really respect what they do. We’ve learned a lot from each of them and so this week has just been a thrill for us because what we’re really saying is, “Please look at how good each of these people are at what they do and the teams they’re with.” they work.” The level of performance of each of them is amazing.
More about The Citadel: Diana, Season 1
Milan, 2030. Eight years ago, the independent global spy agency Citadel was destroyed by the powerful enemy syndicate Manticore. Since then, Diana Cavalieri (Matilda De Angelis), an undercover Citadel agent, has been alone, trapped behind enemy lines as a mole on Manticore. When she finally sees a way out and a chance to disappear forever, the only way to do it is to trust her most unlikely ally, Edo Zani (Lorenzo Cervasio), heir to the Manticore of Italy and son of the head of the Italian organization, Ettore. Zani (Maurizio Lombardi), who is fighting for leadership with other European families.
Check out our others Citadel interview here:
Source: Screen Rant Plus