Amazon Cancels ‘Citadel’ Spinoffs as Season 2 Wraps Production
Amazon has officially cancelled its Indian and Italian spinoffs of the Citadel universe, including the International Emmy Award-nominated Citadel: Honey Bunny starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Varun Dhawan. Despite positive responses in their home markets, both Honey Bunny and Citadel: Diana—featuring Italian star Matilda De Angelis—failed to generate the global traction Amazon had hoped for. As a result, storylines from these two series will now be folded into Citadel Season 2, the flagship series led by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden.
Amazon is making a big shift in how it handles its global content, deciding to streamline its international spinoffs into one unified story. Vernon Sanders, Head of Television at Amazon MGM Studios, confirmed the cancellation in a recent statement, saying, “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.”
The move comes just weeks after reports surfaced that Citadel Season 2 was facing delays. Originally expected in late 2025, the second season is now slated to premiere globally in the second quarter of 2026. The show is currently in post-production.
A Bold Experiment That Didn’t Fully Land
Amazon had ambitious plans for the Russo Brothers’ series, which launched in April 2023 with a high-budget, globe-trotting spy narrative. The concept was to build a sprawling cinematic universe featuring interconnected international spinoffs, each rooted in a different culture and language but tied to the core storyline involving the secretive agency battling the powerful Manticore syndicate.
Honey Bunny, which premiered in December 2024, was the franchise’s Indian adaptation and generated considerable buzz for pairing Samantha and Varun Dhawan in action-heavy roles. The Italian edition, Citadel: Diana, dropped in September 2024 and also drew critical praise in Europe.
However, while both shows fared well locally, Amazon reportedly felt they didn’t succeed in drawing in a broad global audience. The streaming platform has since re-evaluated its approach, opting to bring their compelling narratives into the central timeline rather than continuing them as standalone series.
Citadel Season 2: What to Expect
With the cancellation of the spinoffs, Citadel Season 2 will now become the narrative anchor for the entire franchise. According to Amazon, the new season will deepen the emotional arcs of lead characters Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra), Mason Kane (Richard Madden), and Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), as they face mounting threats from the sinister organization Manticore.
Sources reveal that the scripts will cleverly weave in unresolved plotlines from Honey Bunny and Diana, bringing closure to characters and expanding the franchise without the need for multiple parallel series. The second season also promises high-octane action sequences, bold cinematic visuals, and new additions to the cast that are expected to be announced later this year.