The Shocking $250 Million Failure That Crushes James Bond Dreams: Amazon's TV Experiment Gone Wrong

Amazon Prime's Citadel, an espionage thriller series starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra, turned out to be a major failure. Its $250 million budget, driven in part by unnecessary expenses like filming in multiple international locations and elaborate action scenes, did not pay off. The series received poor reviews and had extremely low viewership, putting Madden's chances of becoming the next James Bond in jeopardy. However, Madden's undeniable charisma, showcased in previous successful projects like Game of Thrones and Bodyguard, still serves as a redeeming factor amidst Citadel's disappointment.

Citadel's Failure Hurts Richard Madden's Next James Bond Actor Chances

Richard Madden's role in the highly successful Bodyguard not only earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor, but also garnered attention for him as a potential candidate to play James Bond. With Daniel Craig's departure after No Time to Die, the question of who will assume the iconic James Bond mantle has been on the minds of audiences. Citadel, which was supposed to be a monumental show and an opportunity for Madden to showcase his skills in a high-budget spy thriller, unfortunately failed to meet expectations.

Since his time on Game of Thrones, Richard Madden has been making strides towards becoming a leading man in Hollywood. Prior to Citadel, his most notable projects were TV series and supporting roles in films, including his portrayal of the central antagonist in Marvel's Eternals. Major, high-budget projects often place a great deal of responsibility on their lead actors, with the success or failure of these projects having a significant impact on their future careers, even if they are beyond their control. Taylor Kitsch serves as an example of an actor who experienced a sudden decrease in opportunities due to commercial failures. Therefore, Citadel's failure could have similar consequences for Richard Madden, potentially affecting his chances of portraying James Bond.

Could Richard Madden Still Be The Next James Bond? His Chances & Odds Explained

Richard Madden is one of the actors being considered for the role of James Bond, although he is not currently the top choice. Actors like Henry Cavill, Idris Elba, and Tom Hardy have garnered more support due to their popularity. Additionally, age may play a role in the decision. Daniel Craig was 38 when he starred in his first Bond film, which makes Madden an ideal candidate. However, if the studio wants to go in a younger direction, they may lean towards an actor like Paul Mescal. Despite not having the advantage of age or popularity at the moment, Madden still has the potential to be fantastic in the role.