Anthony Russo describes Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Varun Dhawan’s Citadel Honey Bunny as a ‘dialogue with India’ | Web Series

On India’s love for cinema

Anthony and his younger brother Joe Russo enjoy a huge following in India since directing Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014. Prime Video’s Citadel series is their most ambitious project and is directed by Indian star Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden from Game of Thrones. fame.

“We are film lovers. We are very passionate. We were film fanatics before we became filmmakers. So we respond very strongly to film lovers and India has a huge passion for cinema. It is electrifying,” Anthony told PTI in an exclusive interview. .

Citadel: Honey Bunnywhich releases in India on November 7, is directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK. The India episode stars Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu.

“It’s a dialogue with India about storytelling, films and shows. It’s been one of the most exciting parts of what we’ve been able to do as filmmakers: being able to interact with Indian audiences,” Anthony said of the India chapter of the series, which has an Italian companion in Citadel: Diana, will be released on October 10, while Citadel: Honey Bunny will be released on November 7.

Citadel, in which Priyanka played Nadia Sinh, premiered last year on Prime Video and is already filming its second season. But before that, the Russos will bring the action to India through Citadel: Honey Bunny, written by Sita Menon.

“The most exciting thing here with Citadel is that we can really partner with Indian storytellers and filmmakers, as well as DK and Raj and Sita. It is not only with the public but also with the creators. And that’s exciting for us,” said the director.

Citadel Diversity

Anthony, who grew up in Ohio, said he and his brother were often found watching “obscure” films from around the world at the Cleveland Cinematheque, an alternative and repertory movie theater. Bringing together multiple cultures from countries such as the United States, India and Italy through Citadel could well become a model of diversity both in front of and behind the camera, he said.

“Citadel presents us with a completely different opportunity to do something we’ve never done before… We connect with people from all over through this program, through the storytelling of this program,” he said, adding: “The process of creative collaboration and co-creation is really intimate and powerful and strong and it’s a very involved form of human communication, so the fact that we can do that and share that dialogue with the public is the biggest thrill.”

Citadel: Diana, which is executive produced by Anthony, Joe and his sister Angela Russo-Otstot (AGBO), is the second series to debut in the world of Citadel. The show follows Angelis’ main character Matilda, a spy on Manticore who works undercover as a mole for her rival Citadel agency to uncover the truth behind her parents’ deaths.

The Citadel timeline shows

Between Citadel and Citadel: Honey Bunny, where does Citadel: Diana fit in the grand scheme of things? Angela said the two shows are set in different timelines and pay homage to their own cinematic stories in “wonderful” ways.

“Citadel: Diana takes place in the near future, in the year 2030. About eight years have passed since the fall of the Citadel, which we witnessed in the first season. So we’re more or less on a similar timeline as Citadel first season and Diana.”

“However, in Honey Bunny we are going back many decades to experience the childhood of Priyanka’s character, Nadia. So that series is largely set in the 1990s and also the 2000s. The two timelines we will follow “, said.

According to Angela, Citadel: Honey Bunny has a retro feel and is a little more analog, while Citadel: Diana is sleek and futuristic in terms of technology. “The level of execution of all our filmmakers, DK, Raj, Gina Gardini (showrunner) and Arnaldo Catinari (director) on Diana is really exquisite. It’s really exciting for us,” he added.

Citadel co-creator Davil Weil said the new show allows the creators to answer many “exciting” fan questions that arose from the first series. Through this long format of overarching storytelling, the writer said they had the opportunity to “take a look” between the different chapters of what they created in one series and shed light on it in another.

The connection is personal in both Citadel: Diana and Citadel: Honey Bunny. “People fell in love with Nadia, who wouldn’t? It’s Priyanka Chopra. What was so exciting to see in Honey Bunny is really diving into her origin story, who her parents were, and it’s a really beautiful love story at the center… Citadel: Diana gives us a peek inside Manticore, the antagonist of the Citadel. spy organization and really put a human face and a family at the center of Manticore,” said David, who also serves as executive producer of Diana.

Citadel: Diana also pays homage to the Russo brothers’ Italian roots. “Italy has a very special culture that influences many people around the world, but certainly the fact that our family history is rooted there has always spoken to us very powerfully. And we have been very in tune with it. So being able to collaborate with them It’s very exciting for us,” Anthony said. “Our parents are very excited,” Angela added.