Controversial director Woody Allen, now 90, will begin shooting his new film in Madrid this fall. Production is scheduled to start on October 5, though it was originally planned for spring. This will be his 50th feature, according to infohub.kz.
Plot details are under wraps, but the film will be shot entirely in the Spanish capital. The project has financial backing from city and regional authorities: production company Película WASP AIE has signed a deal with local officials for €1.5 million to promote the region through cinema, with another €1.5 million coming from Madrid's city hall. The total budget is €12 million.
Allen's return to work at such an advanced age draws extra attention given his checkered reputation. The director has faced years of criticism over his relationship with Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of his former partner Mia Farrow. In 1992, when Allen was 56 and Previn 21, their romance became public, and they married in 1997. The affair sparked a major scandal that continues to be discussed.
Allen has also been accused of sexual abuse by another adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow. He has always denied the allegations. In 1993, Connecticut prosecutors declined to charge him, though the prosecutor noted there was probable cause for prosecution.
With the #MeToo movement, the story resurfaced. In 2019, Amazon ended its partnership with Allen and refused to release his films. Nevertheless, he continued working, mostly with European producers.
Another contentious issue involves Jeffrey Epstein. In released investigation documents, Allen is mentioned multiple times: the files include correspondence, meeting notes, and photos confirming his long-standing social ties with Epstein. Specifically, Allen and his wife Soon-Yi repeatedly communicated with him and participated in joint trips and dinners.
Allen's last film, "Coup de Chance," came out in 2023 and was his first fully French-language project. Now he is gearing up for his next endeavor in Madrid.