Prime Video’s upcoming spy-thriller series Citadel is already making waves even before its release. The series stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden and has been renewed for a second season, much to the surprise of some executives at the streamer. The Hollywood Reporter has cited sources close to the production of Citadel as claiming that the budget of the show has zoomed past the $300 million mark (nearly Rs 2500 crores), making it the second most expensive show of all time behind Prime Video’s own The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. However, despite the massive budget, the production has been challenging, with numerous reshoots and changes to the showrunner. In this article, we will dive into the details of Citadel’s production, the reasons behind its high costs, and why it has already been renewed for a second season.
Citadel: A Troubled Production
Citadel hit a roadblock in December 2021 when Joe Russo intervened and replaced the showrunner Josh Appelbaum with Daniel Weil. According to a source cited by THR, it was due to Joe’s intervention that the cost of production was increased as he “tossed out a huge bunch of material,” which caused massive reshoots. Mike Larocca, president, and co-founder of AGBO, the Russos’ production company, clarified that the changes had to be made after feedback from the audience. “We felt like it needed some more character work early to draw people into the show. It was that straightforward,” he said.
THR also reported that Citadel was originally supposed to have eight, hour-long episodes. But the streamer cut them down to six, 40 minute episodes. Despite this, the show has been renewed for a second season. A veteran at Amazon told the publication, “There are a couple of relationships where I don’t really understand the bet that is being made. But Jen (Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios) believes in the Russos.”
High Costs of Production
The budget of the show has reportedly surpassed the $300 million mark, making it the second most expensive show of all time behind Prime Video’s own The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. According to sources close to the production, the high costs of the show are due to its international scope and the use of multiple filming locations. The show has been filmed in several countries, including Italy, India, and the UK, which has contributed to the overall cost.
The reshoots also led to the cast members being paid “more than planned,” making a few Amazon executives find Priyanka Chopra’s claim about getting pay parity for the first time in her career funny. They joked that it was ‘the first and the second time’, considering the extra money that she earned because of the reshoots.
Renewed for a Second Season: What’s the Bet?
Despite its difficult production and high costs, Citadel has already been renewed for a second season. Some executives at the streamer have questioned this decision, considering the challenges faced during production. However, Jennifer Salke, the Head of Amazon Studios, believes in the Russos and has faith in the success of the show.
It remains to be seen whether Citadel will live up to the hype and justify its massive budget and production struggles. But with the backing of Amazon and the star power of Chopra and Madden, the show is sure to generate buzz when it finally hits screens.
