"Heart-racing TV": Richard Madden's "steamy" and divisive spy thriller Citadel coming to ITV soon
You'll be able to stream the action-packed series for free
Citadel, Prime Video’s spy thriller “phenomenon” starring Richard Madden, is about to arrive on a new streaming home: ITV.
There’s been no shortage of great dramas on ITV this year. Whether it’s espionage shows like Secret Service and Betrayal, true crime series like The Lady and Believe Me, or whodunnits like Gone, there’s been something for everyone.
ITV has also been ramping up its acquisitions in the first half of 2026. For example, you can stream Ruth Wilson’s acclaimed The Affair for free, as well as Black Sails and Nashville.
Next up is… Citadel, one of the most expensive TV shows ever made. It’s also proven to be divisive, so let’s dive in so you know what to expect.
What is Citadel about?
There are a lot of twists and turns in Citadel. So, we’re going to tease the plot without ruining what happens in the first season.
When the show opens, it’s been eight years since Citadel – an independent, incredibly powerful global spy agency – fell. They were wiped out by Manticore, a villainous syndicate trying to manipulate the world from the shadows (not unlike… the Syndicate in the Mission: Impossible movies).
Two agents managed to survive: Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh, though their memories were wiped.
They’ve stayed in hiding ever since. However, Mason reunites with what should be a familiar face: Bernard Orlick, his former Citadel colleague. He desperately needs Mason’s help to prevent a Manticore agent from finding a case of world-altering data.
Don't miss a single story! Add us as a Preferred Source in Google for all your television news
Trust us, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s like a mix of Mission: Impossible, James Bond, Jason Bourne, and John le Carré (okay, maybe that last one is a stretch), full of action, betrayals, steamy romance, glamour, and big-budget, heart-racing set-pieces.
Who’s in the Citadel cast?
While Citadel has a large ensemble cast, it revolves around two stars more than any others: Richard Madden as Mason Kane and Priyanka Chopra as Nadia Sinh.
Madden almost requires no introduction. He’s one of the UK’s most recognisable actors, courtesy of his role in the sensational Bodyguard alongside Keeley Hawes, as well as his performance as Robb Stark in Game of Thrones. He also starred in Rocketman, 1917, and Marvel’s Eternals.
Chopra is a bona fide superstar: the highest-paid actress in India, a Bollywood titan, and a multi-faceted actress, producer, author, and musician. Some of her biggest western projects include The Matrix Resurrections, Baywatch, and Heads of State.
She’s also married to Nick Jonas, one-third of the Jonas Brothers.
There are two other major stars: Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada, The Lovely Bones) as Bernard Orlick and Lesley Manville (Mum, Sherwood) as Dahlia Archer, a high-ranking Manticore agent.
The series is also created by Josh Appelbaum, Bryan Oh, and David Weil. The Russo Brothers (who directed Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame) serve as executive producers.
Full Citadel cast
- Ashleigh Cummings as Abby Graham
- Roland Møller as Anders and Davik Silje
- Osy Ikhile as Carter Spence
- Caoilinn Springall as Hendrix
- Matt Berry as Frank Sharpe
- Jack Reynor as Hutch
- Lina El Arabi as Celine Rohr
- Merle Dandridge as Joana Malvern
- Gabriel Leone as Paolo Braga
- Rayna Vallandingham as Aparna
How many episodes are there?
There are 13 episodes of Citadel in total, across two seasons.
All 13 episodes will be available to stream when it arrives on ITVX.
When is Citadel on ITVX?
Citadel will be available to stream on ITVX from June 14, 2026.
According to an ITV press release, its acquisition marks a “definitive moment in the streaming service’s growth strategy, bringing ‘big screen’ cinematic spectacle to ITVX”.
Where was Citadel filmed?
While Citadel is a global spy thriller, it makes good use of the UK as a double for other locations.
For example, scenes set in New York City were shot at Canary Wharf in London, while other sequences were filmed in Kensington Gardens, the Royal Albert Hall, and the Tate Modern.
The production team also travelled to other areas of England. Namely, Lincolnshire’s Harlaxton Manor, Birmingham, and Surrey.
It wasn’t only filmed in the UK, though. The show’s second season largely shifted production to Toronto, Canada, while action sequences were also filmed in Slovenia.
How much did Citadel cost?
According to a Puck News report, Citadel (both the flagship show and its spinoffs) has cost Amazon a whopping $500 million
When the first season was released in 2023, it was reported to have cost around $300 million. That firmly places it among the most expensive TV shows of all time, alongside the likes of The Boys, Game of Thrones, and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
While it’s been described as a “phenomenon” by Amazon, it wouldn’t be accurate to say it’s had anywhere near the pop-cultural impact of some of its contemporaries. Plus, its critical reception has been very mixed; right now, it has an average rating of 59%.
Read more: The best movies on ITVX you can stream for free now
