Amazon extends Citadel for second season… after spy thriller’s meager first season cost $300 million

Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden are facing another expensive round of spy games on the world since Amazon officially renewed their show Citadel for a second season.

The first season reportedly cost $300 million, becoming the second most expensive show ever produced in Hollywood history.

But that astonishing price tag didn’t garner stellar reviews, as critics have largely given the flashy new spy thriller a big thumbs down.

“Citadel is a $300 million disaster for Amazon,” it trumpeted Rolling stones Alan Sepinwall, who labeled the series as ‘bland’.

The everyday beast branded Citadel as ‘garbage TV’ while Variety proclaimed it to be “a business plan in search of a show.”

Breaking the bank: The first season reportedly cost $300 million, becoming the second most expensive show ever produced in Hollywood history; Chopra and Madden pictured at the world premiere of Citadel in London last month

Amazon and MGM Studios boss Jennifer Salke sounds like she would strongly disagree with those assessments, as she praised the show as a “global phenomenon” in her renewal announcement.

“Citadel is truly a global phenomenon,” she proclaimed. Our goal has always been to create a new franchise, rooted in original IP, that would grow Prime Video’s international audience.

“This show has attracted a large number of new international customers to Prime Video. The massive worldwide debut audience is a testament to the remarkable vision of Joe and Anthony Russo, the incredible talents of Richard Madden, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Lesley Manville and Stanley Tucci, and the tireless work of the creative teams, cast and crew.’

Concluding her statement, Salke referenced how Amazon is making the first episode of season one available for free through Amazon Freevee, starting Friday.

“Given the overwhelming number of our customers who have embraced this show, we are not only excited to share the premiere episode of Citadel worldwide without membership, but also confirm that the series will return for a second season.”

The series is said to be a huge passion project for Salke, and that passion paid for a six-episode first season that would break the bank at most studios.

But Amazon is making expensive TV, as they are currently number one when it comes to most expensive programming – Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power costs a whopping $58 million per episode.

Through their production company AGBO, the Russo Brothers serve as the creative force behind Citadel and supported Salke’s enthusiasm with their own exuberant statement.

Mediocre: The show’s amazing price tag couldn’t buy stellar reviews, as critics have largely given the flashy new spy thriller a big thumbs down. “Citadel is a $300 million disaster for Amazon,” Trumped Rolling Stone’s Alan Sepinwall, labeling the series “bland”

Yikes: The Daily Beast labeled Citadel as “garbage TV,” while Variety proclaimed it “a business plan in search of a show”

There’s more to come: Amazon wants to expand Citadel into a franchise with spin-offs and build an edible universe around the tentpole series

The filmmakers said, “AGBO is thrilled to begin this next phase of the spy story with Jen, [head of television] Vernon [Sanders], and the entire team at Amazon. Citadel’s innovative storytelling has paved the way for an incredible global collaboration with creatives in front of and behind the camera.”

Amazon plans to expand Citadel — which features some steamy sex scenes between Chopra and Madden — into a spin-off franchise, building an edible universe around the tentpole series.

Citadel’s renewal comes a day before the season one finale hits Amazon.

The official synopsis for season one reads: “The global spy agency Citadel has fallen and the memory of its agents has been erased. Now the powerful Manticore crime syndicate fills the power vacuum. Citadel agents must remember their past and find the strength to fight back.”