Has #MeToo Shelved Woody Allen’s Latest and Possibly Last Movie?
Woody Allen’s multi-format multi-picture deals with Amazon have been a mess of a collaboration from the beginning. The latest news is that Amazon is shelving Allen’s latest film, A Rainy Day in New York, which had been set for a 2018 release. Filming wrapped last fall, but Amazon is now saying ‘no release date has ever been set for the film.’
The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Selena Gomez, Jude Law and Elle Fanning.
Allen’s deal with Amazon calls for three additional films, but Woody has no films on his slate for release in 2018 or 2019. In fact, just days ago the news made the rounds that there hasn’t been any time in his entire career that Allen hasn’t had a movie in development. Headlines proclaimed that the 82 year old director is taking a “career break” for the first time in 45 years.
Reports have pointed out that it’s odd for Amazon to shelve a finished film it payed $25 million for, when its been desperately seeking original content, leading to speculation that its the current #MeToo climate that has Amazon unwilling to release the film.
Allen has never been convicted of a crime and has steadfastly denied any allegations of sexual impropriety, and there has been heartbreaking testimony in the media on all sides of the question about what he did or didn’t do. But his relationship with and marriage to Soon Yi Preven- his ex-girlfriend’s adopted daughter, goes far enough against societal norms for many to believe where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Allen’s adopted daughter Dylan Farrow who wrote the expose accusing Woody of abusing her has become a major catalyst and an important part of the moment.
