Amazon Upset with Priyanka Chopra’s Citadel 2, Halts Production of Varun Dhawan’s Spin-Off

Amazon Prime Video’s spy thriller series, Citadel, starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden, is facing some major setbacks. Produced by the Russo Brothers’ company AGBO, the show had high expectations for creating an interconnected universe of international spin-offs. However, reports from The Hollywood Reporter indicate that the producers are not satisfied with the direction of the show. This comes after the departure of Jennifer Salke, the former Head of Amazon MGM Studios. Citadel has been grappling with issues such as exceeding budget, creative differences, and production delays from the beginning. Now, the future of the show seems uncertain.

The second season of Citadel, which was initially set for a Fall 2025 release, has been postponed to Spring 2026. Additionally, all spin-off projects related to the series have been put on hold. Sources suggest that Amazon MGM is not pleased with the progress of Citadel Season 2. While an official release date for the new season is yet to be announced, there is speculation that further delays might occur if the studio demands additional revisions. Filming for the season has already been completed. The exit of Jennifer Salke, who played a significant role in positioning Citadel as a major project for Amazon MGM Studios, has added to the uncertainty surrounding the show’s future.

Citadel, created by Josh Appelbaum, Bryan Oh, and David Weil, is an American spy TV series exclusive to Amazon Prime Video. The series stars Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra in the lead roles. The show premiered its first season on April 28, 2023, and was later renewed for a second season.

One of the key attractions of Citadel was its potential for global spin-offs in various countries. While some spin-offs, like Citadel: Diana from Italy and Citadel: Honey Bunny from India, have already been released to decent viewership, all future developments have been halted until the completion of Citadel Season 2. There are speculations that Citadel: Honey Bunny, featuring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, might have a better chance of getting renewed. However, no official decisions have been made regarding the fate of any spin-offs at this time.

The journey to Citadel’s debut has been an arduous and costly one. With reshoots, creative conflicts, and crew changes, the budget for the first season exceeded $200 million, making it one of the most expensive TV shows ever produced. Despite garnering decent viewership internationally, the show’s performance in the U.S. was not as anticipated, making the renewal for Season 2 a surprising move. If the upcoming season fails to meet expectations, Citadel could end up being one of the most costly streaming ventures to fizzle out. For now, fans of Priyanka Chopra will have to wait to see what’s next for her character, Nadia Sinh, in this globe-trotting spy drama.