Woody Allen files £52 million lawsuit against Amazon Studios

Woody Allen has filed a $68 million (£52 million) against Amazon Studios, saying that it has backed out of a four-film deal.

Allen says that the studio has refused to release his most recent movie A Rainy Day In New York, despite it being finished for more than six months.

According to Variety, Allen is saying that the streaming service has given only ‘vague’ reasons for having not released the film, and has gone back on their legal obligations.

Allegations that Allen sexually abused his daughter Dylan Farrow re-emerged last year, claims that Allen has long denied.

“Amazon has tried to excuse its action by referencing a 25-year-old, baseless allegation against Mr. Allen, but that allegation was already well known to Amazon (and the public) before Amazon entered into four separate deals with Mr. Allen — and, in any event it does not provide a basis for Amazon to terminate the contract,” reads the suit.

“There simply was no legitimate ground for Amazon to renege on its promises.”

Allen says that in January last year, Amazon proposed a delay to releasing A Rainy Day In New York, starring Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Selena Gomez and Jude Law, which Allen agreed to.

However, the suits claims that in June 2018, Amazon contacted Allen to say that it would not distribute the film, nor any of the remaining films including in the four-film deal.

The studio said it was axing the agreement due to ‘supervening events, including renewed allegations against Mr. Allen, his own controversial comments, and the increasing refusal of top talent to work with or be associated with him in any way, all of which have frustrated the purpose of the Agreement’.

Allen’s previous movies Wonder Wheel and Cafe Society were both released on Amazon. He’s seeking $68 million in damages and legal fees.

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