Varun Dhawan is set to headline Prime Video’s Indian original series within the “Citadel” franchise, the streaming platform announced on Tuesday.
Billed as a “local original detective series”, the currently untitled project is from Prime Video and AGBO, the production banner co-founded by Hollywood filmmaking duo Russo Brothers.
Raj & DK, who previously collaborated with Prime Video on the successful “The Family Man” series, will serve as showrunners and directors on the upcoming show.
Gaurav Gandhi, Vice President, Prime Video India, said the team is excited to begin production on the Indian chapter of the “Citadel” universe.
“With this project, we are building on our mission of borderless entertainment to produce local original content that can be enjoyed by audiences around the world. Citadel is a truly global franchise, with local productions , countries, which is an inter-connected storyline – a first-of-its-kind innovation in storytelling,” Gandhi said in a statement.
“We are delighted to have Varun Dhawan play the lead role in this super exciting Indian installment of the franchise. With Raj and DK coming together to create this action-packed detective series, and Varun playing the lead role, we are confident that Citadel The India chapter will not only raise the bar in terms of original productions in India, but it will also bring global attention to India’s incredible pool of creators and talent. We can’t wait to share it with our audiences in India and around the world “
According to a press release issued by the streamer, filming on the series will begin in January.
Written by Sita R Menon along with Raj and DK, the Indian original “Citadel” series marks Dhawan’s streaming debut.
Anthony and Joe Russo, who are attached as executive producers on the project, said they are thrilled to see another production within the “Citadel” universe begin this time in India.
“We, and all of AGBO, consider it an honor to collaborate with inspiring filmmakers like DK and Raj, who bring a unique vision, style and tone to our collection of global series. And, we look forward to seeing Can’t get over how this remarkable cast brings to life the imaginative characters of him and Sita,” they said in a joint statement.
Dhawan, who was recently seen in the hit creature comedy “Bhediya”, is looking forward to starting his journey in the streaming space with Prime Video.
“’Citadel’ is an extraordinarily ambitious and exciting franchise, and being a part of this magnificent universe envisioned by Russo Brothers’ AGBO and Jennifer Salke is a historic moment in my career.
“I’ve been a big fan of his work and I’m thrilled to be a part of this project, and can’t wait to start shooting for it. The story of the Indian ‘Citadel’ chapter is fantastic, and when you have producers Raj on board And like DK, one can be sure that a spectacle is being created,” he added.
Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK will also serve as executive producers under their banner D2R Films. The series is produced by D2R Films and Amazon Studios, with AGBO’s Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Mike Larocca, Angela Russo-Otstott, Scott Nemes and David Weil (“Hunters”) overseeing production for all series. Huh. Global “Citadel” universe.
Josh Applebaum, Andre Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg serve as executive producers for Midnight Radio on the Indian chapter as well as other “Citadel” installments.
As previously announced, Richard Madden (“Bodyguard”), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (“Quantico”) and Stanley Tucci (“The Hunger Games” films) will star in the “Citadel” series, the first launch in the franchise. It will premiere in 2023.
Additional local-language “Citadel” productions are also in the works, including an Italian original series starring Matilda De Angelis of “The Undoing” fame.