- By Srishti Pandey
- Sat, 05 Oct 2024 12:43 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Anthony Russo, one-half of the renowned Russo brothers, recently spoke about their highly-anticipated spy series, Citadel: Honey Bunny, and their collaboration with Indian filmmakers Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK. The show, which is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on November 7, stars Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Varun Dhawan in the lead roles.
In a recent interview with PTI, Anthony Russo expressed his excitement about working with Indian creators for the Citadel universe. He shared how his visits to India during the promotions of Avengers: Endgame and The Gray Man allowed him to witness the country’s passion for cinema firsthand. He said, “We are cinema lovers. We were fanatical cinema-goers before we became filmmakers. So we respond very strongly to film lovers, and India has such a massive passion for film. It’s electrifying.”
The collaboration with Raj & DK, along with writer Sita Menon, has been one of the highlights for the Russo brothers. “It’s a dialogue with India over storytelling, films and shows. Being able to engage with Indian audiences and now with Indian storytellers is thrilling for us,” he added.
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The Citadel franchise, created as a multi-lingual and multi-national spyverse, began with Citadel, led by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden. The new Indian chapter, Citadel: Honey Bunny, delves deeper into the backstory of Priyanka’s character, Nadia Sinh. Set in the 1990s and early 2000s, the series will focus on Nadia’s childhood and upbringing, giving fans a closer look at her roots and family history.
Citadel: Diana, another series set within the same universe, will be released on October 10 and stars Italian actress Matilda De Angelis. The show takes place in 2030, eight years after the fall of the Citadel agency, which was depicted in the first season. Unlike Citadel: Honey Bunny, which offers a retro feel, Citadel: Diana is described as being more futuristic, reflecting the technological advancements in its timeline.
According to Angela Russo-Otstot, the siblings' sister and executive producer for Citadel: Diana, the Citadel shows celebrate the diverse cultures they represent. David Weil, co-creator of the Citadel universe, believes the upcoming Indian and Italian chapters will provide fans with answers to many thrilling questions raised in the original series. He added, “Through this long-format global storytelling, we got a chance to peek between the different chapters of what we created in one series and shine a light on it in another one.”
Anthony Russo concluded by saying that this is an opportunity for them to bring multiple cultures together, not just in front of the camera but behind it as well. He noted, “The process of creative collaboration and co-creation is really intimate, powerful and strong, and it’s a very involved form of human communication.”