After a deadly attack, the agency is disbanded, and its elite agents are wiped of their memories.
With Citadel out the way, a new powerful syndicate, Manticore, is rising in the void.
DEADLINE:How did theCitadelscreening go?
Joe Russo at the Sands International Film Festival of St Andrews.Robert Perry/Getty Images
And why bring the series here to Sands?
JOE RUSSO:Were here to support the festival.
DEADLINE:That family history, your daughter graduated from St Andrews?
RUSSO:She did.
She graduated a couple of years ago.
But subsequently, I had a nephew and two nieces go here.
And a very close friend is now sending their children here.
So we have a strong connection to the university.
DEADLINE:And what place does cinema occupy here at St Andrews?
Whats the goal for Sands?
My brother and I are technologists and futurists.
Were interested in what is next.
I think there are a lot of creators that are emerging in the social media space that are compelling.
To them, a story can be a 30-second TikTok, and Im not here to judge that.
Im here to celebrate interesting work that I see.
I want to start bringing in emerging voices from all forms of media.
Not just in film.
DEADLINE:How much of a commitment toCitadelhas Amazon made?
It was an incredible idea.
We love collaborating with people.
We love hearing from different voices.
We grow tired of hearing from the same voices over and over.
DEADLINE:The first two episodes ofCitadelwere directed by Newton Thomas Sigel.
Do you and Anthony get behind the camera at any point?
RUSSO:We certainly could.
Its just a function of scheduling for us.
But were very invested.
I was on set with Tom [Sigel] for most of the shooting he did.
Hes been in the business for a long time and has one of the most incredible resumes.
We worked with him onExtraction, which was a difficult shoot.
He even functioned as a de facto producer onExtractionbecause of his experience.
Then he worked with us onCherry.
He has the ability to tell big stories and highly experimental stories.
DEADLINE:How did you land on Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden?
RUSSO:We met Madden because we loved him inBodyguard.
We sat down with him and joked about the potential for him to play James Bond.
A few months later, the concept ofCitadelwas born.
Jen Salke actually recommended her, and we thought it was a fantastic idea.
it’s possible for you to have a lack of understanding of how the rest of the world thinks.
The global market, without question, is the most significant market moving forward.
Its significant theatrically, and for streamers, its where their expansion will come from.
DEADLINE:With that philosophy, what would the best version of Hollywood look like to you?
RUSSO:Certainly a more diverse version and one thats more international.
We learn about other cultures from movies like that.
So, I guess, our goal would be empowerment.
DEADLINE:This is the second year of Sands.
What has the experience of running a festival been like?
What have you learned?
RUSSO:I love it.
The goal should be to expand slightly every year and grow organically over time.
DEADLINE:Do you want the festival to evolve into a market?
RUSSO:A market is always helpful in supporting a festival.
Its been helpful to Cannes and other festivals around the world.
It wouldnt have to be a huge market but just a compelling market that attracts the right material.
DEADLINE:Will you keep Sands at this date in April?
RUSSO:Yeah, I dont think were going to move it.
DEADLINE:Last year it was earlier, right?
We intentionally moved it forward this year to get closer to Cannes.
And we may move it even a weekend closer next year.
DEADLINE:Why is that?
Its hard to compete against Cannes for films.
RUSSO:It is hard to compete with Cannes, but theres also always space for some counter-programming.
If you look underneath Sundance, there was Slamdance.
So theres always a way to counter-program.
RUSSO:I think South by Southwest is the most forward-thinking festival in the world.
I love how it embraces all the different aspects of media and brings them together for a conversation.
Id love to follow a similar trajectory because thats what a modern festival looks like.
We have to start somewhere.
