Prime Video unveiled the first full trailer for its upcoming seriesCitadel: Honey Bunnyat an event in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday. The series serves as a prequel to the mega-budget 2023 showCitadel, which starredPriyanka Chopra Jonas,Richard Madden,Lesley ManvilleandStanley Tucci.Honey Bunnycomes mere weeks after the premiere ofCitadel: Diana, the Italian offshoot of the ambitious franchise,orchestrated in part by the Russo brothers. The 90s-setHoney Bunny, co-written and directed by the popular Indian filmmaker duoRaj NidimoruandKrishna D.K., starsVarun DhawanandSamantha Ruth Prabhuin the titular roles.
Immediately, it’s clear thatthe show’s tone is going to be vastly differentfrom what audiences saw in bothCitadel, which borrowed heavily from theMission: ImpossibleandJames Bond films, andCitadel: Diana, which combined elements of Italian gangster drama with the franchise’s core futuristic espionage thrills. InHoney Bunny, both protagonists are shown to be working in the film business, and it is eventually revealed that Dhawan’s character, a stuntperson, is leading a double life as an agent. Samantha’s character, an aspiring actress, also has a daughter named Nadia, who could be a younger version of Chopra Jonas' character in the original show.Honey Bunnyoffersa glimpse into the earliest days of the secret Citadel organization, responsible for maintaining world peace and countering a rival faction known as Manticore. The internal politics of Manticore were explored inCitadel: Diana, but in the year 2030.
A handler of sorts, played by veteran Bollywood character actorKay Kay Menon, shows up and explains to Bunny what his mission is. The trailer then reveals plenty of quick glimpses of the action that Raj and D.K. have put together; unlike the previous installments of the franchise,the tone is more lighthearted, more self-aware. The action, which was quite elaborate (and more computer-generated) in the firstCitadel, is more rough around the edges this time around. It appears that Raj and D.K. have also designed one of their trademark single-take action sequences, as is apparent in a quick shot of Samantha’s character navigating a bunch of goons inside a car, like that iconic scene inThe Raid 2.
Prime Video Has Ambitious Plans for ‘Citadel’ Franchise
Raj and D.K – this is what they’re professionally known as, by the way – previously worked with Samantha on the second season of their Prime Video spy seriesThe Family Man, which opened to massive acclaim a few years ago. They have since spearheaded the crime comedyFarzi, another series set in theFamily Manuniverse. It makes them the ideal filmmakers to take on the responsibility of overseeing the Indian spin-off ofCitadel, which was announced to huge fanfare some years ago. With the original series receiving more attention for itstroubled productionthan its quality, Prime Video would hope thatHoney Bunnyturns things around for the franchise. The showwill premiere on November 7. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Citadel: Honey Bunny
This spy action thriller, set in the ’90s, follows the origins of a clandestine spy agency, blending espionage with a touching love story. It delves into the agency’s foundation, covert operations, and rise to power.
