Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, the light-hearted entertainer is written by Chandan Kumar and created by TVF.
Tag: Prime Video
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Prime Video orders second season of ‘The Boys’ spin-off ‘Gen V’
By PTI
LOS ANGELES: “Gen V”, the spin-off series to smash hit show “The Boys”, has been renewed for season two by Prime Video, the streamer announced Friday.
The renewal comes just weeks after the show began its eight-episode run on Prime Video.
The first season will conclude on November 3, according to a press release.
“Gen V”, which hails from Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television, follows the training of the first generation of superheroes to know about Compound V, and that their powers were injected into them, rather than God-given.
Showrun by Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, “Gen V” features an ensemble cast of Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Shelley Conn, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Marco Pigossi.
Vernon Sanders, head of television, at Amazon MGM Studios, said “Gen V” has become the number one series on Prime Video in over 130 countries.
Expanding the universe of ‘The Boys’ with a series as bold as ‘Gen V’ has been an incredible journey for us and our wonderful partners at Sony.
From our first conversation with showrunners Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, along with Eric Kripke, Evan Goldberg, and Seth Rogen, we knew Gen V would push the boundaries.
“Gen V is Prime Video’s most acquisitive new Original series of 2023, and we’re excited that our incredible cast and crew are going to continue telling brave and bold stories from Gen V to our customers,” he added.
Showrunner Fazekas and executive producer Eric Kripke said they are excited about working on the sophomore season of “Gen V”.
“These are characters and stories we’ve grown to love, and we are thrilled to know people feel the same! The writers are already working on the new season — sophomore year is gonna be wild, with all the twists, heart, satire, and exploding genitalia you’ve come to expect from the show,” they added.
“Gen V” also features guest stars Clancy Brown and Jason Ritter, as well as appearances from Jessie T Usher, Colby Minifie, Claudia Doumit, and PJ Byrne, who reprise their roles from “The Boys”.
The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios, in association with Kripke Enterprises, Point Grey Pictures, and Original Film. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
LOS ANGELES: “Gen V”, the spin-off series to smash hit show “The Boys”, has been renewed for season two by Prime Video, the streamer announced Friday.
The renewal comes just weeks after the show began its eight-episode run on Prime Video.
The first season will conclude on November 3, according to a press release.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
“Gen V”, which hails from Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television, follows the training of the first generation of superheroes to know about Compound V, and that their powers were injected into them, rather than God-given.
Showrun by Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, “Gen V” features an ensemble cast of Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Shelley Conn, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Marco Pigossi.
Vernon Sanders, head of television, at Amazon MGM Studios, said “Gen V” has become the number one series on Prime Video in over 130 countries.
Expanding the universe of ‘The Boys’ with a series as bold as ‘Gen V’ has been an incredible journey for us and our wonderful partners at Sony.
From our first conversation with showrunners Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, along with Eric Kripke, Evan Goldberg, and Seth Rogen, we knew Gen V would push the boundaries.
“Gen V is Prime Video’s most acquisitive new Original series of 2023, and we’re excited that our incredible cast and crew are going to continue telling brave and bold stories from Gen V to our customers,” he added.
Showrunner Fazekas and executive producer Eric Kripke said they are excited about working on the sophomore season of “Gen V”.
“These are characters and stories we’ve grown to love, and we are thrilled to know people feel the same! The writers are already working on the new season — sophomore year is gonna be wild, with all the twists, heart, satire, and exploding genitalia you’ve come to expect from the show,” they added.
“Gen V” also features guest stars Clancy Brown and Jason Ritter, as well as appearances from Jessie T Usher, Colby Minifie, Claudia Doumit, and PJ Byrne, who reprise their roles from “The Boys”.
The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios, in association with Kripke Enterprises, Point Grey Pictures, and Original Film. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
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Prime Video shares character details from ‘The Boys’ spin-off series ‘Gen V’
By PTI
MUMBAI: Streamer Prime Video has offered details of the characters from “Gen V”, the upcoming spin-off series to smash hit show “The Boys”.
The Amazon original series is set to launch on Prime Video on September September 29.
“Gen V” follows the training of the first generation of superheroes to know about Compound V, a mysterious substance that accords powers to humans.
The new generation will get to know that their powers were injected into them, rather than God-given, as per the official description.
“These young, competitive heroes put their physical and moral boundaries to the test, competing for the school’s highly coveted top ranking.
They quickly come to learn that ambition comes with sacrifice, and the difference between right and wrong is not as clear as they once believed.
“When the university’s dark secrets come to light, the students must come to grips with what type of heroes they are going to become,” it added.
Showrun by Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, “Gen V” features an ensemble cast of Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Shelley Conn, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Marco Pigossi.
Sinclair essays the role of Marie Moreau, an 18-year-old superhero with the ability to control and weaponise her own blood.
As an incoming freshman at Vought-run Godolkin University, she is eager to prove she has what it takes to join The Seven but is sidetracked by a mystery she begins to unravel at the school.
Perdomo is playing Andre Anderson, a junior at Godolkin University with magnetic powers, whereas Broadway portrays Emma Meyer, who is also known by her superhero name, Little Cricket, for her ability to get super small.
Conn will be seen in the role of Indira Shetty, the dean of Godolkin University.
She doesn’t have powers, but her background in superhero psychology and her peerless ability to analyze what makes them tick make her indispensable to the school.
Phillips plays Cate Dunlap, a junior at Godolkin University who is good friends with Jordan and Andre.
Actors Thor and Luh portray Jordan Li, a competitive student who has a unique ability to change between male and female forms, through which different powers manifest. The man is dense and indestructible, while the woman is agile and can launch energy blasts.
Germann plays Sam, a troubled supe who is desperately trying to escape his unfortunate circumstances.
The series is executive produced by Kripke, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H Moritz, Ori Marmur, Pavun Shetty, Ken Levin, Jason Netter, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, Craig Rosenberg, Nelson Cragg, Zak Schwartz, Erica Rosbe and Michaela Star.
“Gen V” is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon Studios, in association with Kripke Enterprises, Point Grey Pictures, and Original Film.
“The Boys”, a 2019 series, became a global hit with its violent and satirical take on the superhero genre.
MUMBAI: Streamer Prime Video has offered details of the characters from “Gen V”, the upcoming spin-off series to smash hit show “The Boys”.
The Amazon original series is set to launch on Prime Video on September September 29.
“Gen V” follows the training of the first generation of superheroes to know about Compound V, a mysterious substance that accords powers to humans.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
The new generation will get to know that their powers were injected into them, rather than God-given, as per the official description.
“These young, competitive heroes put their physical and moral boundaries to the test, competing for the school’s highly coveted top ranking.
They quickly come to learn that ambition comes with sacrifice, and the difference between right and wrong is not as clear as they once believed.
“When the university’s dark secrets come to light, the students must come to grips with what type of heroes they are going to become,” it added.
Showrun by Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, “Gen V” features an ensemble cast of Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Shelley Conn, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Marco Pigossi.
Sinclair essays the role of Marie Moreau, an 18-year-old superhero with the ability to control and weaponise her own blood.
As an incoming freshman at Vought-run Godolkin University, she is eager to prove she has what it takes to join The Seven but is sidetracked by a mystery she begins to unravel at the school.
Perdomo is playing Andre Anderson, a junior at Godolkin University with magnetic powers, whereas Broadway portrays Emma Meyer, who is also known by her superhero name, Little Cricket, for her ability to get super small.
Conn will be seen in the role of Indira Shetty, the dean of Godolkin University.
She doesn’t have powers, but her background in superhero psychology and her peerless ability to analyze what makes them tick make her indispensable to the school.
Phillips plays Cate Dunlap, a junior at Godolkin University who is good friends with Jordan and Andre.
Actors Thor and Luh portray Jordan Li, a competitive student who has a unique ability to change between male and female forms, through which different powers manifest. The man is dense and indestructible, while the woman is agile and can launch energy blasts.
Germann plays Sam, a troubled supe who is desperately trying to escape his unfortunate circumstances.
The series is executive produced by Kripke, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H Moritz, Ori Marmur, Pavun Shetty, Ken Levin, Jason Netter, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, Craig Rosenberg, Nelson Cragg, Zak Schwartz, Erica Rosbe and Michaela Star.
“Gen V” is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon Studios, in association with Kripke Enterprises, Point Grey Pictures, and Original Film.
“The Boys”, a 2019 series, became a global hit with its violent and satirical take on the superhero genre.
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Voice work of Invincible Season 3 completed
By Express News Service
Prime Video recently dropped the teaser of the second season of the animated series Invincible at the San Diego Comic-con. Following the teaser release, it has been revealed that the series’ third season’s voice recording has already been completed.
The series, which subverts the superhero genre by showing the grey sides of having superhuman abilities, is based on a comic book of the same name by Robert Kirkman. He is also best known for creating The Walking Dead comic book, which later became adapted into the long-running live-action series.
Invincible tells the story of 18-year-old Mark Grayson, who’s just like every other guy his age—except his father is (or was) the most powerful superhero on the planet. Invincible stars Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, Zazie Beetz, Grey DeLisle, Chris Diamantopoulos, Walton Goggins, Gillian Jacobs, Jason Mantzoukas, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Kevin Michael Richardson, Seth Rogen, and J.K. Simmons.
Joining the Season 2 cast are Sterling K. Brown, Peter Cullen, Rob Delaney, Calista Flockhart, Phil LaMarr, Luke MacFarlane, Tatiana Maslany, Scott McNairy, Jay Pharoah, Ella Purnell, Tim Robinson, Ben Schwartz, Rhea Seehorn, Lea Thompson, Paul F. Tompkins, Shantel VanSanten, and more. Season 2 will release on Prime Video on November 3. Season 3 is yet to get a release window.
Prime Video recently dropped the teaser of the second season of the animated series Invincible at the San Diego Comic-con. Following the teaser release, it has been revealed that the series’ third season’s voice recording has already been completed.
The series, which subverts the superhero genre by showing the grey sides of having superhuman abilities, is based on a comic book of the same name by Robert Kirkman. He is also best known for creating The Walking Dead comic book, which later became adapted into the long-running live-action series.
Invincible tells the story of 18-year-old Mark Grayson, who’s just like every other guy his age—except his father is (or was) the most powerful superhero on the planet. Invincible stars Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, Zazie Beetz, Grey DeLisle, Chris Diamantopoulos, Walton Goggins, Gillian Jacobs, Jason Mantzoukas, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Kevin Michael Richardson, Seth Rogen, and J.K. Simmons.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
Joining the Season 2 cast are Sterling K. Brown, Peter Cullen, Rob Delaney, Calista Flockhart, Phil LaMarr, Luke MacFarlane, Tatiana Maslany, Scott McNairy, Jay Pharoah, Ella Purnell, Tim Robinson, Ben Schwartz, Rhea Seehorn, Lea Thompson, Paul F. Tompkins, Shantel VanSanten, and more. Season 2 will release on Prime Video on November 3. Season 3 is yet to get a release window.
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Prime Video developing Australian version of ‘The Office’
By PTI
MUMBAI: An Australian version of classic sitcom “The Office” is in the works at Prime Video but with a gender-flipped lead character.
Comedian and actor Felicity Ward will headline the Australian show, a joint production between Prime Video, BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand, and Bunya Entertainment.
“The Office” first started in the UK with actor Ricky Gervais playing David Brent, the head of the Slough branch of the fictional Wernham Hogg paper company.
It ran for two seasons from 2001 to 2003.
The sitcom’s American version, which saw actor Steve Carrell as Michael Scott, became equally popular during its run on NBC from 2005 to 2013.
In the Australian take, Ward will essay the role of Hannah Howard, the managing director of the packaging company Flinley Craddick.
“When she gets news from Head Office that they will be shutting down her branch and making everyone work from home, she goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep in order to keep her ‘work family’ together.
“The staff of Flinley Craddick indulge her and must endure Hannah’s outlandish plots as they work toward the impossible targets that have been set for them,” the official plotline read.
Gervais, co-creator, co-writer and star of “The Office”, said he is excited about Australia remaking the sitcom.
“Office politics have changed a bit in 20 years, so can’t wait to see how they navigate a modern-day David Brent,” he added.
The Australian version will be the 13th adaptation of the series after similar shows in France, Canada, Chile, Israel, India, the Middle East, and Poland.
Production on the eight-part Australian Amazon Original series will start in Sydney later this month with filming to take place over eight weeks.
The show will also feature Edith Poor, Steen Raskopoulos, Shari Sebbens, Josh Thomson, Jonny Brugh, Pallavi Sharda, Susan Ling Young, Raj Labade, Lucy Schmit, and Firass Dirani.
MUMBAI: An Australian version of classic sitcom “The Office” is in the works at Prime Video but with a gender-flipped lead character.
Comedian and actor Felicity Ward will headline the Australian show, a joint production between Prime Video, BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand, and Bunya Entertainment.
“The Office” first started in the UK with actor Ricky Gervais playing David Brent, the head of the Slough branch of the fictional Wernham Hogg paper company.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
It ran for two seasons from 2001 to 2003.
The sitcom’s American version, which saw actor Steve Carrell as Michael Scott, became equally popular during its run on NBC from 2005 to 2013.
In the Australian take, Ward will essay the role of Hannah Howard, the managing director of the packaging company Flinley Craddick.
“When she gets news from Head Office that they will be shutting down her branch and making everyone work from home, she goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep in order to keep her ‘work family’ together.
“The staff of Flinley Craddick indulge her and must endure Hannah’s outlandish plots as they work toward the impossible targets that have been set for them,” the official plotline read.
Gervais, co-creator, co-writer and star of “The Office”, said he is excited about Australia remaking the sitcom.
“Office politics have changed a bit in 20 years, so can’t wait to see how they navigate a modern-day David Brent,” he added.
The Australian version will be the 13th adaptation of the series after similar shows in France, Canada, Chile, Israel, India, the Middle East, and Poland.
Production on the eight-part Australian Amazon Original series will start in Sydney later this month with filming to take place over eight weeks.
The show will also feature Edith Poor, Steen Raskopoulos, Shari Sebbens, Josh Thomson, Jonny Brugh, Pallavi Sharda, Susan Ling Young, Raj Labade, Lucy Schmit, and Firass Dirani.
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Ben Affleck’s ‘AIR’ to stream directly on Prime Video
By Express News Service
It has been announced today that Ben Affleck’s AIR will premiere in India exclusively on Prime Video on May 12. The film will be available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
AIR is based on true events about the origin of Air Jordan, a basketball shoe line, of which a Nike employee seeks to strike a business deal with rookie player Michael Jordan. It stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis.
Matt Damon plays maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight, with Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, and Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler, among others.
This marks the first time Ben Affleck has directed a feature film starring Matt Damon. With a script penned by Alex Convery, AIR is produced by David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Affleck, and Damon. The critically acclaimed film was released worldwide in theatres on April 5.
It has been announced today that Ben Affleck’s AIR will premiere in India exclusively on Prime Video on May 12. The film will be available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
AIR is based on true events about the origin of Air Jordan, a basketball shoe line, of which a Nike employee seeks to strike a business deal with rookie player Michael Jordan. It stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker and Viola Davis.
Matt Damon plays maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight, with Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, and Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler, among others.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
This marks the first time Ben Affleck has directed a feature film starring Matt Damon. With a script penned by Alex Convery, AIR is produced by David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Affleck, and Damon. The critically acclaimed film was released worldwide in theatres on April 5.
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Into the spyverse with Citadel
Express News Service
Amazon Prime Video’s Citadel is shaping up to be a unique spy thriller for many reasons. The show, which has Russo Brothers (Anthony and Joe) as executive producers, is a spy story interwoven throughout the world, and one, which will have regional spin-offs written, produced and directed by local talent. These are stories that have already been written by creators Josh Appelbaum and Bryan Oh in such a way that they seamlessly blend with the larger narrative.
“This is a really unique television event and I think that’s what excites Anthony and me the most about it. The concept was an idea that Jen Salke presented to us a few years ago. We found it to be an amazing way to create a really diverse global community of storytellers to tell a giant mosaic of a narrative together,” shares Joe Russo.
Anthony Russo, shares he has been working on the idea with Joe for many years. “As storytellers, we really love the engagement of the global film community. We went to work trying to find the right story that could fulfil that ambition and we have had amazing collaborators who have helped us find that.”The trailer, which came out last week, shows us a glimpse of the hard work that has gone into cracking the action sequences. Did lead stars Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden find these stunts challenging? “Well, I have a scar on my forehead, near my eyebrow, thanks to Citadel,” shares Priyanka, with a loud laugh, “I know. I don’t even cover it anymore. The stunts were amazing. My character is ruthless in a lot of ways. She comes from a place of trusting her body and instinct. Every time I read new pages of the script, I found that the stunts got bigger. But we managed to execute it.”
Richard calls Citadel a ‘dance of massive action sequences with intimate drama’. “The series has action pieces, but all of them are infused with heart, drama and storytelling,” he says, adding that the story kept them on their toes throughout the shoot. “We would be in the middle of a fight sequence and then, go into a piece of drama. We would pad down the sweat a little bit so that we looked good in a close-up, and then, we would get back into a fight sequence again.”
The series was shot in a non-linear manner. “We shot back and forth, and we had to remind each other of the story. And we were like, ‘Wait, we did that in that scene!’ And then, we would bring writer David Weil in to sort it out for us. It was like a big jigsaw puzzle we had to remember. But it was so much fun,” says Priyanka. Anthony shares that the roles of Priyanka and Richard are complex and intricately layered. “They play two different versions of themselves with different sets of memories, and you see this in terms of their behaviour, choices and thoughts. Both roles come with the highest degree of emotional complexity and physical challenges.”
As someone who is a bigger star in Bollywood and in general, India, Priyanka feels that the idea of having a global show which can branch into non-English shows in different countries excited her. “I think the ambition of this show is to create a massive narrative that can travel across countries and speak the people’s language there,” she says. The Quantico actor feels that she is fascinated to see how this huge, cross-country series is going to be received. “Audiences of the Italian Citadel will want to watch the Indian show in Hindi to understand the bigger scheme of things. Citadel has encouraged this cross-pollination of cultures and entertainment forms.”
It isn’t new for Joe and Anthony to be blending multiple stories and linking them cohesively to deliver mammoth-sized entertainment as they successfully cracked the code with blockbuster MCU films like Avengers: Infinity Wars and Avengers: End Game. And with The Gray Man, they successfully tested the waters with a globe-trotting spy thriller. Anthony shares that they have incorporated all these learnings here. “The show capitalises on two exciting trends. Creating narrative universes that have a sprawling expression to them and interconnecting them to get characters that change and morph and move between different iterations. Then, there’s the rise in global filmmaking and the ability of non-English language movies and shows to travel to other cultures, typically the more English language-dominated cultures. So, this show felt like a confluence of both those trends.”
Considering the expanse of the massive narrative, team Citadel makes it clear that the first season is going to leave the viewers puzzled. “I am sure that the audiences are gonna be left with questions after the first season, and they are going to want to see the second season badly,” says Priyanka. The first two episodes of Citadel will premiere on April 28 on Amazon Prime Video, with new episodes made available every Friday, till May 26.
Team Citadel, including actors Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden, and executive producers Anthony and Joe Russo, talk about their upcoming spy thriller series, which marks the beginning of a new cinematic universe
Amazon Prime Video’s Citadel is shaping up to be a unique spy thriller for many reasons. The show, which has Russo Brothers (Anthony and Joe) as executive producers, is a spy story interwoven throughout the world, and one, which will have regional spin-offs written, produced and directed by local talent. These are stories that have already been written by creators Josh Appelbaum and Bryan Oh in such a way that they seamlessly blend with the larger narrative.
“This is a really unique television event and I think that’s what excites Anthony and me the most about it. The concept was an idea that Jen Salke presented to us a few years ago. We found it to be an amazing way to create a really diverse global community of storytellers to tell a giant mosaic of a narrative together,” shares Joe Russo.
Anthony Russo, shares he has been working on the idea with Joe for many years. “As storytellers, we really love the engagement of the global film community. We went to work trying to find the right story that could fulfil that ambition and we have had amazing collaborators who have helped us find that.”
The trailer, which came out last week, shows us a glimpse of the hard work that has gone into cracking the action sequences. Did lead stars Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden find these stunts challenging? “Well, I have a scar on my forehead, near my eyebrow, thanks to Citadel,” shares Priyanka, with a loud laugh, “I know. I don’t even cover it anymore. The stunts were amazing. My character is ruthless in a lot of ways. She comes from a place of trusting her body and instinct. Every time I read new pages of the script, I found that the stunts got bigger. But we managed to execute it.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });Richard calls Citadel a ‘dance of massive action sequences with intimate drama’. “The series has action pieces, but all of them are infused with heart, drama and storytelling,” he says, adding that the story kept them on their toes throughout the shoot. “We would be in the middle of a fight sequence and then, go into a piece of drama. We would pad down the sweat a little bit so that we looked good in a close-up, and then, we would get back into a fight sequence again.”
The series was shot in a non-linear manner. “We shot back and forth, and we had to remind each other of the story. And we were like, ‘Wait, we did that in that scene!’ And then, we would bring writer David Weil in to sort it out for us. It was like a big jigsaw puzzle we had to remember. But it was so much fun,” says Priyanka. Anthony shares that the roles of Priyanka and Richard are complex and intricately layered. “They play two different versions of themselves with different sets of memories, and you see this in terms of their behaviour, choices and thoughts. Both roles come with the highest degree of emotional complexity and physical challenges.”
As someone who is a bigger star in Bollywood and in general, India, Priyanka feels that the idea of having a global show which can branch into non-English shows in different countries excited her. “I think the ambition of this show is to create a massive narrative that can travel across countries and speak the people’s language there,” she says. The Quantico actor feels that she is fascinated to see how this huge, cross-country series is going to be received. “Audiences of the Italian Citadel will want to watch the Indian show in Hindi to understand the bigger scheme of things. Citadel has encouraged this cross-pollination of cultures and entertainment forms.”
It isn’t new for Joe and Anthony to be blending multiple stories and linking them cohesively to deliver mammoth-sized entertainment as they successfully cracked the code with blockbuster MCU films like Avengers: Infinity Wars and Avengers: End Game. And with The Gray Man, they successfully tested the waters with a globe-trotting spy thriller. Anthony shares that they have incorporated all these learnings here. “The show capitalises on two exciting trends. Creating narrative universes that have a sprawling expression to them and interconnecting them to get characters that change and morph and move between different iterations. Then, there’s the rise in global filmmaking and the ability of non-English language movies and shows to travel to other cultures, typically the more English language-dominated cultures. So, this show felt like a confluence of both those trends.”
Considering the expanse of the massive narrative, team Citadel makes it clear that the first season is going to leave the viewers puzzled. “I am sure that the audiences are gonna be left with questions after the first season, and they are going to want to see the second season badly,” says Priyanka. The first two episodes of Citadel will premiere on April 28 on Amazon Prime Video, with new episodes made available every Friday, till May 26.
Team Citadel, including actors Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden, and executive producers Anthony and Joe Russo, talk about their upcoming spy thriller series, which marks the beginning of a new cinematic universe
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Into the spyverse with Citadel
Express News Service
Amazon Prime Video’s Citadel is shaping up to be a unique spy thriller for many reasons. The show, which has Russo Brothers (Anthony and Joe) as executive producers, is a spy story interwoven throughout the world, and one, which will have regional spin-offs written, produced and directed by local talent. These are stories that have already been written by creators Josh Appelbaum and Bryan Oh in such a way that they seamlessly blend with the larger narrative.
“This is a really unique television event and I think that’s what excites Anthony and me the most about it. The concept was an idea that Jen Salke presented to us a few years ago. We found it to be an amazing way to create a really diverse global community of storytellers to tell a giant mosaic of a narrative together,” shares Joe Russo.
Anthony Russo, shares he has been working on the idea with Joe for many years. “As storytellers, we really love the engagement of the global film community. We went to work trying to find the right story that could fulfil that ambition and we have had amazing collaborators who have helped us find that.”The trailer, which came out last week, shows us a glimpse of the hard work that has gone into cracking the action sequences. Did lead stars Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden find these stunts challenging? “Well, I have a scar on my forehead, near my eyebrow, thanks to Citadel,” shares Priyanka, with a loud laugh, “I know. I don’t even cover it anymore. The stunts were amazing. My character is ruthless in a lot of ways. She comes from a place of trusting her body and instinct. Every time I read new pages of the script, I found that the stunts got bigger. But we managed to execute it.”
Richard calls Citadel a ‘dance of massive action sequences with intimate drama’. “The series has action pieces, but all of them are infused with heart, drama and storytelling,” he says, adding that the story kept them on their toes throughout the shoot. “We would be in the middle of a fight sequence and then, go into a piece of drama. We would pad down the sweat a little bit so that we looked good in a close-up, and then, we would get back into a fight sequence again.”
The series was shot in a non-linear manner. “We shot back and forth, and we had to remind each other of the story. And we were like, ‘Wait, we did that in that scene!’ And then, we would bring writer David Weil in to sort it out for us. It was like a big jigsaw puzzle we had to remember. But it was so much fun,” says Priyanka. Anthony shares that the roles of Priyanka and Richard are complex and intricately layered. “They play two different versions of themselves with different sets of memories, and you see this in terms of their behaviour, choices and thoughts. Both roles come with the highest degree of emotional complexity and physical challenges.”
As someone who is a bigger star in Bollywood and in general, India, Priyanka feels that the idea of having a global show which can branch into non-English shows in different countries excited her. “I think the ambition of this show is to create a massive narrative that can travel across countries and speak the people’s language there,” she says. The Quantico actor feels that she is fascinated to see how this huge, cross-country series is going to be received. “Audiences of the Italian Citadel will want to watch the Indian show in Hindi to understand the bigger scheme of things. Citadel has encouraged this cross-pollination of cultures and entertainment forms.”
It isn’t new for Joe and Anthony to be blending multiple stories and linking them cohesively to deliver mammoth-sized entertainment as they successfully cracked the code with blockbuster MCU films like Avengers: Infinity Wars and Avengers: End Game. And with The Gray Man, they successfully tested the waters with a globe-trotting spy thriller. Anthony shares that they have incorporated all these learnings here. “The show capitalises on two exciting trends. Creating narrative universes that have a sprawling expression to them and interconnecting them to get characters that change and morph and move between different iterations. Then, there’s the rise in global filmmaking and the ability of non-English language movies and shows to travel to other cultures, typically the more English language-dominated cultures. So, this show felt like a confluence of both those trends.”
Considering the expanse of the massive narrative, team Citadel makes it clear that the first season is going to leave the viewers puzzled. “I am sure that the audiences are gonna be left with questions after the first season, and they are going to want to see the second season badly,” says Priyanka. The first two episodes of Citadel will premiere on April 28 on Amazon Prime Video, with new episodes made available every Friday, till May 26.
Team Citadel, including actors Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden, and executive producers Anthony and Joe Russo, talk about their upcoming spy thriller series, which marks the beginning of a new cinematic universe
Amazon Prime Video’s Citadel is shaping up to be a unique spy thriller for many reasons. The show, which has Russo Brothers (Anthony and Joe) as executive producers, is a spy story interwoven throughout the world, and one, which will have regional spin-offs written, produced and directed by local talent. These are stories that have already been written by creators Josh Appelbaum and Bryan Oh in such a way that they seamlessly blend with the larger narrative.
“This is a really unique television event and I think that’s what excites Anthony and me the most about it. The concept was an idea that Jen Salke presented to us a few years ago. We found it to be an amazing way to create a really diverse global community of storytellers to tell a giant mosaic of a narrative together,” shares Joe Russo.
Anthony Russo, shares he has been working on the idea with Joe for many years. “As storytellers, we really love the engagement of the global film community. We went to work trying to find the right story that could fulfil that ambition and we have had amazing collaborators who have helped us find that.”
The trailer, which came out last week, shows us a glimpse of the hard work that has gone into cracking the action sequences. Did lead stars Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden find these stunts challenging? “Well, I have a scar on my forehead, near my eyebrow, thanks to Citadel,” shares Priyanka, with a loud laugh, “I know. I don’t even cover it anymore. The stunts were amazing. My character is ruthless in a lot of ways. She comes from a place of trusting her body and instinct. Every time I read new pages of the script, I found that the stunts got bigger. But we managed to execute it.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });Richard calls Citadel a ‘dance of massive action sequences with intimate drama’. “The series has action pieces, but all of them are infused with heart, drama and storytelling,” he says, adding that the story kept them on their toes throughout the shoot. “We would be in the middle of a fight sequence and then, go into a piece of drama. We would pad down the sweat a little bit so that we looked good in a close-up, and then, we would get back into a fight sequence again.”
The series was shot in a non-linear manner. “We shot back and forth, and we had to remind each other of the story. And we were like, ‘Wait, we did that in that scene!’ And then, we would bring writer David Weil in to sort it out for us. It was like a big jigsaw puzzle we had to remember. But it was so much fun,” says Priyanka. Anthony shares that the roles of Priyanka and Richard are complex and intricately layered. “They play two different versions of themselves with different sets of memories, and you see this in terms of their behaviour, choices and thoughts. Both roles come with the highest degree of emotional complexity and physical challenges.”
As someone who is a bigger star in Bollywood and in general, India, Priyanka feels that the idea of having a global show which can branch into non-English shows in different countries excited her. “I think the ambition of this show is to create a massive narrative that can travel across countries and speak the people’s language there,” she says. The Quantico actor feels that she is fascinated to see how this huge, cross-country series is going to be received. “Audiences of the Italian Citadel will want to watch the Indian show in Hindi to understand the bigger scheme of things. Citadel has encouraged this cross-pollination of cultures and entertainment forms.”
It isn’t new for Joe and Anthony to be blending multiple stories and linking them cohesively to deliver mammoth-sized entertainment as they successfully cracked the code with blockbuster MCU films like Avengers: Infinity Wars and Avengers: End Game. And with The Gray Man, they successfully tested the waters with a globe-trotting spy thriller. Anthony shares that they have incorporated all these learnings here. “The show capitalises on two exciting trends. Creating narrative universes that have a sprawling expression to them and interconnecting them to get characters that change and morph and move between different iterations. Then, there’s the rise in global filmmaking and the ability of non-English language movies and shows to travel to other cultures, typically the more English language-dominated cultures. So, this show felt like a confluence of both those trends.”
Considering the expanse of the massive narrative, team Citadel makes it clear that the first season is going to leave the viewers puzzled. “I am sure that the audiences are gonna be left with questions after the first season, and they are going to want to see the second season badly,” says Priyanka. The first two episodes of Citadel will premiere on April 28 on Amazon Prime Video, with new episodes made available every Friday, till May 26.
Team Citadel, including actors Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden, and executive producers Anthony and Joe Russo, talk about their upcoming spy thriller series, which marks the beginning of a new cinematic universe
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Entertainment goes beyond borders and language now: Priyanka Chopra Jonas on ‘Citadel’
By PTI
As someone who worked in the Hindi film industry for a long time before making a career in Hollywood, “Citadel” star Priyanka Chopra Jonas says it is exciting to be part of a series that is taking entertainment “beyond borders and language” through an intersection of stories from different countries. “Citadel”, an ambitious spy drama slated to debut on Prime Video on April 28, will act as the flagship show that will blend with local shows already under production in India and Italy, starring Matilda De Angelis, Varun Dhawan, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, respectively.
Chopra Jonas spoke about the “cross-pollination of cultures” in a global press conference in late February. “It was so exciting to me as someone who worked for a very long time in a non-English medium to see the success of subtitled work in English language territories.
But the ambition of this show, which was so attractive to me in the beginning, is kind of like its social experiment of it. “If the flagship show is the English language, you have an Indian show, you have an Italian show, and the characters and the storylines kind of blend into each other,” the Los Angeles-based actor said in the press conference, which was also attended by PTI. The actor hopes this blend of stories will lead people to tune into shows of different languages.
“Like, are the audiences of the Italian show going to want to watch the Hindi language show where they have no similarity in language? That’s so exciting and interesting to me, the cross-pollination of cultures and how entertainment goes beyond borders and language now.
It’s just about storytelling… It’s so cool,” she added. Produced by the Russo Brothers’ (filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo) AGBO and showrunner David Weil, “Citadel” will premiere in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Chopra Jonas is paired opposite “Game of Thrones” star Richard Madden in the globe-trotting series on which David Weil servers as the showrunner.
In the show, Madden and Chopra Jonas play Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh. They are part of the independent global spy agency Citadel, which is tasked to uphold the safety and security of all people. But Citadel was destroyed by operatives of Manticore, a powerful syndicate manipulating the world from the shadows. With Citadel’s fall, the two elite agents had their memories wiped as they narrowly escaped with their lives. They’ve remained hidden ever since, building new lives under new identities, unaware of their pasts.
Until one night, when Mason is tracked down by his former Citadel colleague, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), who desperately needs his help to prevent Manticore from establishing a new world order. Mason and Nadia reunite and embark on a mission that takes them around the world in an effort to stop Manticore, all while contending with a relationship built on secrets, lies, and a dangerous-yet-undying love. Chopra Jonas said she had a great collaborator in Madden.
“We dance really well together. And this was just a really ambitious show. If we didn’t have each other understanding what the other needed, this would have been hard to do.” Talking about the action sequences in the series, the actor said she now has a “scar on my forehead” near her eyebrow. “That’s courtesy ‘Citadel’. I don’t even cover it anymore,” she said, crediting producers Joe and Anthony Russo for bringing in the best stunt team for the series. Chopra Jonas described the show as something that has “many layers and complexities” where “what you see is what you don’t get”.
“Everything is just conceptually crazy. It’s just so exciting to be able to share it with the world because it’s been a long time in the making, it’s so ambitious,” she added. The actor said her character thrives under pressure. “She has to hold her head up high while her character’s changing, her life is changing all around her, but she has to stay centred. “That makes her just very juicy as a character for me to play because every choice that is made by her is burdened and laden by so much pressure. And she thrives in it, so it was really wonderful,” she said. Madden said while his past character carries “a lot of scars” and “trauma”, the new version has no baggage. “There are huge set pieces in this, and that’s something that’s amazing to be part of.
Not only that, but I think oftentimes, we see shows that are 80 per cent drama, 20 per cent action or vice versa. And this show aimed to be 100 per cent of both. “That’s what we’ve managed to pull off because in the middle of these huge sequences with explosions and cars blowing up… we have this really kind of intimate drama between these two characters and how they dance together,” he said. Joe Russo said they were lucky to have a great cast for a high-concept show like “Citadel”.
“What Anthony and I really love about this is the high-concept of it. That both Richard and Priyanka get to play multiple versions of themselves. And this notion that their memories have been erased allows them to create new characters who then have to rediscover who they were.” Weil said what’s “beautiful and ambitious” about this spy universe is that they are creating it in tandem with partners all around the world. “We have announced the India series, the Italy series.
We get to work with these incredible writers, filmmakers, actors, and producers, truly from all around the world, and build this entire story together. So, it becomes this tapestry told in different languages through different cultures, in an authentic way,” he said. The India series is being directed by “The Family Man” creators Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK. Anthony Russo also praised Chopra Jonas and Madden for their performances. “…They are playing two different versions of themselves with different sets of memories and how that processes in terms of their behaviour and their choices and their thoughts.”
As someone who worked in the Hindi film industry for a long time before making a career in Hollywood, “Citadel” star Priyanka Chopra Jonas says it is exciting to be part of a series that is taking entertainment “beyond borders and language” through an intersection of stories from different countries. “Citadel”, an ambitious spy drama slated to debut on Prime Video on April 28, will act as the flagship show that will blend with local shows already under production in India and Italy, starring Matilda De Angelis, Varun Dhawan, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, respectively.
Chopra Jonas spoke about the “cross-pollination of cultures” in a global press conference in late February. “It was so exciting to me as someone who worked for a very long time in a non-English medium to see the success of subtitled work in English language territories.
But the ambition of this show, which was so attractive to me in the beginning, is kind of like its social experiment of it. “If the flagship show is the English language, you have an Indian show, you have an Italian show, and the characters and the storylines kind of blend into each other,” the Los Angeles-based actor said in the press conference, which was also attended by PTI. The actor hopes this blend of stories will lead people to tune into shows of different languages.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });
“Like, are the audiences of the Italian show going to want to watch the Hindi language show where they have no similarity in language? That’s so exciting and interesting to me, the cross-pollination of cultures and how entertainment goes beyond borders and language now.
It’s just about storytelling… It’s so cool,” she added. Produced by the Russo Brothers’ (filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo) AGBO and showrunner David Weil, “Citadel” will premiere in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Chopra Jonas is paired opposite “Game of Thrones” star Richard Madden in the globe-trotting series on which David Weil servers as the showrunner.
In the show, Madden and Chopra Jonas play Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh. They are part of the independent global spy agency Citadel, which is tasked to uphold the safety and security of all people. But Citadel was destroyed by operatives of Manticore, a powerful syndicate manipulating the world from the shadows. With Citadel’s fall, the two elite agents had their memories wiped as they narrowly escaped with their lives. They’ve remained hidden ever since, building new lives under new identities, unaware of their pasts.
Until one night, when Mason is tracked down by his former Citadel colleague, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), who desperately needs his help to prevent Manticore from establishing a new world order. Mason and Nadia reunite and embark on a mission that takes them around the world in an effort to stop Manticore, all while contending with a relationship built on secrets, lies, and a dangerous-yet-undying love. Chopra Jonas said she had a great collaborator in Madden.
“We dance really well together. And this was just a really ambitious show. If we didn’t have each other understanding what the other needed, this would have been hard to do.” Talking about the action sequences in the series, the actor said she now has a “scar on my forehead” near her eyebrow. “That’s courtesy ‘Citadel’. I don’t even cover it anymore,” she said, crediting producers Joe and Anthony Russo for bringing in the best stunt team for the series. Chopra Jonas described the show as something that has “many layers and complexities” where “what you see is what you don’t get”.
“Everything is just conceptually crazy. It’s just so exciting to be able to share it with the world because it’s been a long time in the making, it’s so ambitious,” she added. The actor said her character thrives under pressure. “She has to hold her head up high while her character’s changing, her life is changing all around her, but she has to stay centred. “That makes her just very juicy as a character for me to play because every choice that is made by her is burdened and laden by so much pressure. And she thrives in it, so it was really wonderful,” she said. Madden said while his past character carries “a lot of scars” and “trauma”, the new version has no baggage. “There are huge set pieces in this, and that’s something that’s amazing to be part of.
Not only that, but I think oftentimes, we see shows that are 80 per cent drama, 20 per cent action or vice versa. And this show aimed to be 100 per cent of both. “That’s what we’ve managed to pull off because in the middle of these huge sequences with explosions and cars blowing up… we have this really kind of intimate drama between these two characters and how they dance together,” he said. Joe Russo said they were lucky to have a great cast for a high-concept show like “Citadel”.
“What Anthony and I really love about this is the high-concept of it. That both Richard and Priyanka get to play multiple versions of themselves. And this notion that their memories have been erased allows them to create new characters who then have to rediscover who they were.” Weil said what’s “beautiful and ambitious” about this spy universe is that they are creating it in tandem with partners all around the world. “We have announced the India series, the Italy series.
We get to work with these incredible writers, filmmakers, actors, and producers, truly from all around the world, and build this entire story together. So, it becomes this tapestry told in different languages through different cultures, in an authentic way,” he said. The India series is being directed by “The Family Man” creators Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK. Anthony Russo also praised Chopra Jonas and Madden for their performances. “…They are playing two different versions of themselves with different sets of memories and how that processes in terms of their behaviour and their choices and their thoughts.”
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Entertainment goes beyond borders and language now: Priyanka Chopra Jonas on ‘Citadel’
By PTI
As someone who worked in the Hindi film industry for a long time before making a career in Hollywood, “Citadel” star Priyanka Chopra Jonas says it is exciting to be part of a series that is taking entertainment “beyond borders and language” through an intersection of stories from different countries. “Citadel”, an ambitious spy drama slated to debut on Prime Video on April 28, will act as the flagship show that will blend with local shows already under production in India and Italy, starring Matilda De Angelis, Varun Dhawan, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, respectively.
Chopra Jonas spoke about the “cross-pollination of cultures” in a global press conference in late February. “It was so exciting to me as someone who worked for a very long time in a non-English medium to see the success of subtitled work in English language territories.
But the ambition of this show, which was so attractive to me in the beginning, is kind of like its social experiment of it. “If the flagship show is the English language, you have an Indian show, you have an Italian show, and the characters and the storylines kind of blend into each other,” the Los Angeles-based actor said in the press conference, which was also attended by PTI. The actor hopes this blend of stories will lead people to tune into shows of different languages.
“Like, are the audiences of the Italian show going to want to watch the Hindi language show where they have no similarity in language? That’s so exciting and interesting to me, the cross-pollination of cultures and how entertainment goes beyond borders and language now.
It’s just about storytelling… It’s so cool,” she added. Produced by the Russo Brothers’ (filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo) AGBO and showrunner David Weil, “Citadel” will premiere in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Chopra Jonas is paired opposite “Game of Thrones” star Richard Madden in the globe-trotting series on which David Weil servers as the showrunner.
In the show, Madden and Chopra Jonas play Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh. They are part of the independent global spy agency Citadel, which is tasked to uphold the safety and security of all people. But Citadel was destroyed by operatives of Manticore, a powerful syndicate manipulating the world from the shadows. With Citadel’s fall, the two elite agents had their memories wiped as they narrowly escaped with their lives. They’ve remained hidden ever since, building new lives under new identities, unaware of their pasts.
Until one night, when Mason is tracked down by his former Citadel colleague, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), who desperately needs his help to prevent Manticore from establishing a new world order. Mason and Nadia reunite and embark on a mission that takes them around the world in an effort to stop Manticore, all while contending with a relationship built on secrets, lies, and a dangerous-yet-undying love. Chopra Jonas said she had a great collaborator in Madden.
“We dance really well together. And this was just a really ambitious show. If we didn’t have each other understanding what the other needed, this would have been hard to do.” Talking about the action sequences in the series, the actor said she now has a “scar on my forehead” near her eyebrow. “That’s courtesy ‘Citadel’. I don’t even cover it anymore,” she said, crediting producers Joe and Anthony Russo for bringing in the best stunt team for the series. Chopra Jonas described the show as something that has “many layers and complexities” where “what you see is what you don’t get”.
“Everything is just conceptually crazy. It’s just so exciting to be able to share it with the world because it’s been a long time in the making, it’s so ambitious,” she added. The actor said her character thrives under pressure. “She has to hold her head up high while her character’s changing, her life is changing all around her, but she has to stay centred. “That makes her just very juicy as a character for me to play because every choice that is made by her is burdened and laden by so much pressure. And she thrives in it, so it was really wonderful,” she said. Madden said while his past character carries “a lot of scars” and “trauma”, the new version has no baggage. “There are huge set pieces in this, and that’s something that’s amazing to be part of.
Not only that, but I think oftentimes, we see shows that are 80 per cent drama, 20 per cent action or vice versa. And this show aimed to be 100 per cent of both. “That’s what we’ve managed to pull off because in the middle of these huge sequences with explosions and cars blowing up… we have this really kind of intimate drama between these two characters and how they dance together,” he said. Joe Russo said they were lucky to have a great cast for a high-concept show like “Citadel”.
“What Anthony and I really love about this is the high-concept of it. That both Richard and Priyanka get to play multiple versions of themselves. And this notion that their memories have been erased allows them to create new characters who then have to rediscover who they were.” Weil said what’s “beautiful and ambitious” about this spy universe is that they are creating it in tandem with partners all around the world. “We have announced the India series, the Italy series.
We get to work with these incredible writers, filmmakers, actors, and producers, truly from all around the world, and build this entire story together. So, it becomes this tapestry told in different languages through different cultures, in an authentic way,” he said. The India series is being directed by “The Family Man” creators Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK. Anthony Russo also praised Chopra Jonas and Madden for their performances. “…They are playing two different versions of themselves with different sets of memories and how that processes in terms of their behaviour and their choices and their thoughts.”
As someone who worked in the Hindi film industry for a long time before making a career in Hollywood, “Citadel” star Priyanka Chopra Jonas says it is exciting to be part of a series that is taking entertainment “beyond borders and language” through an intersection of stories from different countries. “Citadel”, an ambitious spy drama slated to debut on Prime Video on April 28, will act as the flagship show that will blend with local shows already under production in India and Italy, starring Matilda De Angelis, Varun Dhawan, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, respectively.
Chopra Jonas spoke about the “cross-pollination of cultures” in a global press conference in late February. “It was so exciting to me as someone who worked for a very long time in a non-English medium to see the success of subtitled work in English language territories.
But the ambition of this show, which was so attractive to me in the beginning, is kind of like its social experiment of it. “If the flagship show is the English language, you have an Indian show, you have an Italian show, and the characters and the storylines kind of blend into each other,” the Los Angeles-based actor said in the press conference, which was also attended by PTI. The actor hopes this blend of stories will lead people to tune into shows of different languages.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });
“Like, are the audiences of the Italian show going to want to watch the Hindi language show where they have no similarity in language? That’s so exciting and interesting to me, the cross-pollination of cultures and how entertainment goes beyond borders and language now.
It’s just about storytelling… It’s so cool,” she added. Produced by the Russo Brothers’ (filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo) AGBO and showrunner David Weil, “Citadel” will premiere in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Chopra Jonas is paired opposite “Game of Thrones” star Richard Madden in the globe-trotting series on which David Weil servers as the showrunner.
In the show, Madden and Chopra Jonas play Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh. They are part of the independent global spy agency Citadel, which is tasked to uphold the safety and security of all people. But Citadel was destroyed by operatives of Manticore, a powerful syndicate manipulating the world from the shadows. With Citadel’s fall, the two elite agents had their memories wiped as they narrowly escaped with their lives. They’ve remained hidden ever since, building new lives under new identities, unaware of their pasts.
Until one night, when Mason is tracked down by his former Citadel colleague, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), who desperately needs his help to prevent Manticore from establishing a new world order. Mason and Nadia reunite and embark on a mission that takes them around the world in an effort to stop Manticore, all while contending with a relationship built on secrets, lies, and a dangerous-yet-undying love. Chopra Jonas said she had a great collaborator in Madden.
“We dance really well together. And this was just a really ambitious show. If we didn’t have each other understanding what the other needed, this would have been hard to do.” Talking about the action sequences in the series, the actor said she now has a “scar on my forehead” near her eyebrow. “That’s courtesy ‘Citadel’. I don’t even cover it anymore,” she said, crediting producers Joe and Anthony Russo for bringing in the best stunt team for the series. Chopra Jonas described the show as something that has “many layers and complexities” where “what you see is what you don’t get”.
“Everything is just conceptually crazy. It’s just so exciting to be able to share it with the world because it’s been a long time in the making, it’s so ambitious,” she added. The actor said her character thrives under pressure. “She has to hold her head up high while her character’s changing, her life is changing all around her, but she has to stay centred. “That makes her just very juicy as a character for me to play because every choice that is made by her is burdened and laden by so much pressure. And she thrives in it, so it was really wonderful,” she said. Madden said while his past character carries “a lot of scars” and “trauma”, the new version has no baggage. “There are huge set pieces in this, and that’s something that’s amazing to be part of.
Not only that, but I think oftentimes, we see shows that are 80 per cent drama, 20 per cent action or vice versa. And this show aimed to be 100 per cent of both. “That’s what we’ve managed to pull off because in the middle of these huge sequences with explosions and cars blowing up… we have this really kind of intimate drama between these two characters and how they dance together,” he said. Joe Russo said they were lucky to have a great cast for a high-concept show like “Citadel”.
“What Anthony and I really love about this is the high-concept of it. That both Richard and Priyanka get to play multiple versions of themselves. And this notion that their memories have been erased allows them to create new characters who then have to rediscover who they were.” Weil said what’s “beautiful and ambitious” about this spy universe is that they are creating it in tandem with partners all around the world. “We have announced the India series, the Italy series.
We get to work with these incredible writers, filmmakers, actors, and producers, truly from all around the world, and build this entire story together. So, it becomes this tapestry told in different languages through different cultures, in an authentic way,” he said. The India series is being directed by “The Family Man” creators Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK. Anthony Russo also praised Chopra Jonas and Madden for their performances. “…They are playing two different versions of themselves with different sets of memories and how that processes in terms of their behaviour and their choices and their thoughts.”