Welcome to the Citadel

By Ernie Rivera

When I first sat down to write Citadel Lost, I didn’t know if I was building a film… or excavating a wound.

I only knew one thing:Legacy can save you—or destroy you.And some stories are born not because you want to tell them, but because you have no choice.

This isn’t a cape story.It’s not about villains in the sky or chosen ones with easy answers.

Citadel Lost is a grounded superhero tragedy—a story about family, trauma, redemption, and the cost of becoming a myth.It’s about a man named Jacob Marcos, once called "The American Hammer," who was built to be unbreakable—until he broke.Now, buried in the bunker of his own legend, the only thing that can save him… is the family he’s already failed.

I wrote this screenplay in under a month.Not because I was rushing, but because it was ready.It came out of me with urgency, clarity, and something like desperation. I was training for the role while writing the lines.Every muscle, every page, every breath was in service of this story.

Now, it’s a film.

And now… it’s yours too.

Here on this site, you’ll find:

• Updates on our upcoming teaser (July) and proof-of-concept short film (August)

• Exclusive behind-the-scenes content

• Cast features, script insights, and glimpses into what Citadel Lost really means beneath the surface

This blog is where I’ll speak directly to you—the ones who still believe stories can cut deep, not just entertain.

Thank you for being here.This is just the beginning.The Citadel is about to fall.

— Ernie RiveraWriter | Director | ActorCitadel Lost