In Prime Video’s Citadel, Richard Madden let Stanley Tucci set the tone

There are plenty of downsides to working for an elite spy organization — there are certain precarities involved, like death, or the downfall of your organization inadvertently leaving you with a wiped memory of who you are and what you’re capable of. The agents are exposed to both risks. Citadel take, Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Johansson) and Mason Kane, played by Richard Madden and Priyanka Chaupra-Jonas, spend their first two episodes clawing to get back on track, fighting violently against those who would harm them. This is what I’m trying to say. I get it, there’s dangers to spying that can make the whole profession semi-unappealing. But on the other hand, there’s Stanley Tucci.

Tucci is a natural charmer.The Devil wears Prada), a dad who steals every scene he’s in (Simple ACaptain America (Captain America the First Avenger). Madden is well aware that he’s the only reason for taking a position at Citadel. As far as he’s concerned, Tucci defined the tone of the mega budget Prime Video show.

“This is a completely new IP; we were making this from scratch, we have nothing to base it off of,” Madden tells Polygon. “And Stanley was the one that managed to really bring that tone to the scenes where we can straddle drama and action and thriller with these lighter touches, and make it funny — he’s a master of doing that.”

Image: Prime Video

Tucci’s typical on-screen presence is all magnetism. Onscreen, Tucci is a magnet. Citadel, Tucci’s spymaster Bernard Orlick is arguably another risk (and certainly a prick) as he handles Mason’s case. The spymaster brings Mason up to date by making his life difficult. He kidnaps Mason’s family and is sarcastic and biting. But since it’s Tucci, he’s still pure charisma distilled. And he’s clearly having a great time with it.

It’s a testament to how good Tucci is that Bernard feels as natural and holistic as he does in the heightened world of Citadel. While he can be off-putting and rough as far as spy handlers go, badgering his charges with quips and kidnappings alike, Bernard does contain multitudes that shine through in the shades of Tucci’s performance: He’s impatient and smug, but in the first two episodes he also clearly cares about his agents, in his own way. As Tucci puts it, he’s using them as tools, and selectively feeding them information in a world of secrets and lies.

“He’s sensitive and he doesn’t want to overwhelm them emotionally because the stuff that they’re dealing with is huge,” Tucci says. “The emotions that they’re dealing with, the memories that they’re dealing with, are huge. His own dark memories, experiences and emotions are also disturbing. I think that’s one of the reasons why he is funny, or can be funny. It’s because he is, simply. [to] survive. And that, to me, is always an interesting character to play.”

Tucci revealed to Polygon he chose the role because he respected Madden. He was “blown away” by Madden in Netflix’s Bodyguard Elton John’s biopic is a must-see. Rocket Man, and said his co-star is “amazing” (as Madden basically folded into himself, embarrassed and flattered by the praise).