Back in 2020, it was revealed that Joe and Anthony Russo would be joining forces with Amazon’s Prime Video to bring a new event series to life on the small screen. Set to star Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) and Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Quantico), the series was dubbed a global thriller meant to launch local spinoffs in India, Italy and Mexico. Unfortunately, the project has been hit with behind-the-scenes drama and has seen its once projected $165 million budget skyrocket to $200+ million.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project has become a bit of a headache. The outlet has revealed that differences in vision have resulted in competing cuts of the pilot, with Joe and Anthony Russo delivering one version and scribes Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec delivering another. Eventually, it came down to Joe Russo and Appelbaum, who also served as the showrunner on the series, and Amazon ultimately decided to side with the brothers. This resulted in Appelbaum being let go last year ahead of Christmas.
Shortly after his firing, Brian Kirk also left the series, as did line producer Sarah Bradshaw. Kirk is said to have directed five of the seven episodes of Citadel. Amazon ended up bringing in David Weil (Hunters) to re-write the series, with cinematographer Thomas Sigel taking over as director for the extensive reshoots with Joe Russo aiding the shoot. Between the reshoots and creative changes, the series saw its $165 million budget add an additional $75 million, making it one of the most expensive television shows ever behind Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Reshoots are said to have wrapped over the Summer and post-production is officially underway. No release date has been announced.
Source: THR.
