The Russo Bros.' Action Spy Franchise Finally Gaining Streaming Steam After 51% RT Disappointment

Citadel and Citadel: Diana are both charting simultaneousy. Prime Video's Citadel, a series about a spy syndicate that was executive produced by Joe and Anthony Russo and stars Richard Madden, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Stanley Tucci, premiered in April 2023 with a lukewarm reception. In addition to earning 51% on Rotten Tomatoes, it vanished from the platform's Top 10 chart relatively quickly. However, plans to expand it into an international franchise continued, with the Italian follow-up Citadel: Diana starring Matilda De Angelis launching in October 2024.

In the daily Prime Video Top 10, which tracks movies and shows simultaneously, both of the Russo Brothers' spy shows have climbed the chart in the wake of the Diana premiere. The new series is charting at No. 1 while the original show is close behind at No. 2. They are the most-watched series on the platform at the time of writing, original or otherwise, ranking above The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (No. 3), The Legend of Vox Machina (No. 4), Tulsa King (No. 6), and Paramount+'s Special Ops: Lioness (No. 7).

Why You Should Watch Citadel And Citadel: Diana

The Shows Kick Off An Intriguing Franchise

There are many factors that combine to make the spy franchise worth watching. For one thing, in spite of critics' hesitation, audiences have responded more positively. In addition to providing the original show with this chart resurgence, Citadel season 1 reviews from viewers earned it a Fresh 63% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The shows also include a variety of talented and unique actors who have been drawn to the big-budget action franchise. In addition to the aforementioned stars, this includes Oscar nominee Lesley Manville in the original series and Nastro d'Argento nominee Matilda De Angelis in Diana.

Citadel: Diana also stars The Young Pope and Ripley's Maurizio Lombardi, Serial (Bad) Weddings' Julia Piaton, Red Sparrow and Warrior Nun's Thekla Reuten, and Medici's Filippo Nigro.

In addition to the Citadel cast bringing together international talent, the franchise is designed to connect viewers across the world with a variety of intriguing new spinoffs. In addition to the U.S. and Italian shows, a spinoff set in India subtitled Honey Bunny and starring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu is set to premiere in November. Other spinoffs in development will be set in Spain and Mexico, giving a wide global perspective on the titular spy syndicate and incorporating many different cultures' approaches to action storytelling.

Our Take On Citadel's Chart Success

The Franchise Might Have Hope After More Than A Year Off The Air

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The fact that the original series has charted alongside Citadel: Diana could be very good for the continuation of the franchise because, in addition to these international spinoffs, Citadel season 2 has also been greenlit. If this resurgence reflects a continued and perhaps growing interest in the English-language series, it could mean that the flagship series will continue to expand, allowing the spinoffs to become more robust, potentially getting follow-up seasons of their own as well as spawning new shows set in other territories.

Source: Prime Video