Two Citadel spinoffs have officially been canceled following reports of a franchise pause for the Russo brothers’ spy universe. Produced by the Russo brothers and premiered in 2023, Prime Video’s spy series stars Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra as Citadel agents whose memories have been wiped clean, and years later, they must contend with a new crime syndicate called Manticore. Several international spin-offs have been announced, including the Italian Citadel: Diana and Indian Citadel: Honey Bunny, which both released one season in 2024. However, all Citadel spinoffs were recently put on pause.

Now, according to Variety, the Citadel international spinoffs Honey Bunny and Diana have been canceled at Prime Video. However, their storylines will be integrated into the main series, Citadel season 2, which is scheduled to premiere next year. Amazon MGM Studios head of television Vernon Sanders shared the following statement:

While these successful and widely enjoyed international chapters will not continue as individual series, Season 2 of Citadel will be our most exhilarating yet. With high-stakes storytelling, new additions to our amazing cast and bold, cinematic ambition, the new season will deepen the emotional journeys of Nadia, Mason and Orlick against the relentless force that is Manticore. We’re excited to share what’s next when ‘Citadel’ Season 2 premieres globally in Q2 of 2026.

Additionally, the synopsis for Citadel season 2 reads as follows:

One month after the events of the first season, we find our Citadel spies underground, as they’re being hunted by Manticore agents around the world. They’re pulled out of hiding to join forces with a new team of unconventional spies when Manticore’s Brazilian billionaire Paulo Braga threatens to unleash a cataclysmic piece of technology, built by Citadel’s own Bernard Orlick, into the world.

Why Were They Canceled?

The cancellations have occurred even though both Citadel spinoffs were reportedly popular. Honey Bunny became Prime Video’s most-watched series globally during its debut weekend in November, while Diana had the best launch for an Italian original on the platform in October. The cancellations also come in the wake of Amazon MGM Studios head Jennifer Salke’s departure, who had championed the series and its international rollout. The fact that Citadel failed to achieve the cultural impact that Amazon had hoped for reportedly may have played a role in her exit.

Since the spinoffs were popular, they were seemingly canceled due to concerns about their quality and cost. The main series, Citadel season 1, carried a production budget of $300 million for its six episodes, making it one of the most expensive television series ever made. While much money was poured into the production, Citadel season 1 delivered an unimaginative spy adventure that struggled under the weight of its own extravagance. The spinoffs were also expensive to produce, and with Diana and Honey Bunny being canceled, other planned spinoffs set in Spain and Mexico seemingly won’t be moving forward either.

More to come…

Source: Variety