‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ and ‘Citadel: Diana’ scrapped as Prime Video reshapes its global spy franchise; Season 2 to debut in Q2 2026 with expanded storyline and cast
New Delhi, April 17: Amazon MGM Studios has officially canceled its international Citadel spinoffs, Citadel: Honey Bunny (India) and Citadel: Diana (Italy), opting instead to merge both storylines into Season 2 of the original global spy series Citadel, which will premiere in Q2 of 2026.
The announcement was confirmed by Vernon Sanders, Head of Television at Amazon MGM Studios, who said,
“Having successfully traversed India and Italy, storylines from both Citadel: Honey Bunny and Citadel: Diana will be woven into the upcoming second season of the mothership series. While these successful and widely enjoyed international chapters will not continue as individual series, Season 2 of Citadel will be our most exhilarating yet.”
Course Correction for Amazon’s Costly Spy Franchise
Initially conceived as Amazon’s answer to James Bond, the Citadel universe — created by AGBO (Joe & Anthony Russo) and greenlit by now-departed studio chief Jennifer Salke — was envisioned as a globe-trotting flagship with multiple international spin-offs. However, creative challenges, escalating costs, and lukewarm reception led to a change in strategy.
Citadel’s first season was plagued with massive budget overruns, including costly reshoots and competing versions of the pilot. Production reportedly ballooned to $235 million, making it the second most expensive series ever, after Amazon’s own Rings of Power.
Despite the chaos, Citadel was renewed before its 2023 debut, but spinoff production stalled. Reports emerged of internal dissatisfaction with Season 2 footage, prompting a full-scale rework.
What’s Next in Season 2?
Amazon has released the official synopsis for Citadel Season 2:
“One month after the events of the first season, we find our Citadel spies underground, 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.”
With new characters, high-stakes missions, and emotional arcs for returning leads Nadia, Mason, and Orlick, Amazon is positioning Season 2 as a bold reboot for the franchise.
As the franchise course-corrects, fans can expect a tighter, unified narrative — minus the planned global expansion — but with renewed cinematic ambition and a promise of higher stakes than ever before.