Woody Allen Faces the Press in Madrid: "This Is the Perfect City for My Story"

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October 1, 2026

A City He Has Loved for Years

Allen made it clear from the start that Madrid was not a random choice. He said he had other options on the table but chose the Spanish capital because it felt like a logical setting for the story he wanted to tell.

"I was very interested in Madrid," he said. "I had filmed before in Barcelona and other cities, and I was excited to work here". He described the city as "precious, elegant, and perfect for what I was looking for". He added that Madrid's streets, buildings, and architecture were very different from New York, which made it perfect for this particular film.

He also explained that the story needed a diplomatic atmosphere, and Madrid fit that requirement better than any other city he considered. "I wrote the story to be abroad, in a diplomatic environment," he said. "Madrid made sense".

What the Film Is About

Allen was characteristically cagey about the plot, but he did offer some details. He described the film as "a comedy with romance, intrigue, and infidelity". He said it is set in a diplomatic atmosphere and that it has "all the ingredients that I like and that make a good story".

"I think I have the ingredients for a good film, but we will have to wait for the result," he said. "It could be good, terrible, or wonderful. I will do my best".

The film's working title is WASP 2026, which stands for Woody Allen Spring Project 2026. However, as part of the public funding agreement, the final title must include the word "Madrid". Allen confirmed that he still does not have a title. "I don't have a title for the film yet," he said. "When I finish it, I will see it and decide. I don't have one".

The Cast

The film stars Alexi Wasser and Jemima Kirke, both known for their work on the series Girls, alongside Spanish actor Peter Vives, who appeared in El tiempo entre costuras and Velvet. The cast also includes Marton Csokas, known for The Lord of the Rings and The Equalizer, and Jakob Oftebro, known for Kon-Tiki and Hamilton.

Wasser and Vives attended the press conference alongside Allen and answered questions from journalists.

The film will feature José Luis Alcaine as director of photography, a legendary Spanish cinematographer who has worked with Pedro Almodóvar on numerous films. The production team also includes Sonia Grande and Alan Bainé.

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The Music

Allen, a lifelong jazz lover and clarinetist, said the film's music will have a connection to Spanish culture. He did not elaborate further, but it is consistent with his habit of carefully curating the music for every film he makes.

The Financing and the Strings Attached

This is where the story becomes more complicated, and more interesting.

The Community of Madrid and the Madrid City Council have each committed 1.5 million euros, for a total of 3 million euros in public funding. The total budget of the film is estimated at 12 million euros.

But the money comes with conditions. The agreement stipulates that at least 15 percent of the film's scenes must be shot in exteriors that make the city easily recognizable, showing its cultural, architectural, and historical facets. The film must premiere at an international festival. It must be presented in Madrid with the actors. It must be projected in at least three international cities. The trailer must contain scenes that make the Community of Madrid easily recognizable.

Perhaps the most notable condition is the title clause. The film's final title must include the word "Madrid". For a filmmaker who has habitually settled on titles only after finishing the edit, this represents a significant departure from his usual method.

Allen has said repeatedly that he does not have a title yet and will decide when the film is finished. But the contract says the title must include Madrid. It is a constraint he has accepted as part of the deal.

The Politics of the Moment

The press conference was not without its political tensions.

Allen was asked about the housing crisis in Madrid and the ongoing protest encampment in the Puerta del Sol. His response was careful and firm.

"Ask the wrong person," he said. "I have never been a political filmmaker and I don't have the wisdom required in social or political matters". He added that he has always dedicated himself to "relations between people, more existential and romantic themes," and that when asked about social or political issues, he only knows what he reads in the newspapers.

"I don't have deeper information about the truth of what is happening," he continued. "I am not the right person to ask these kinds of things. I can't shed light on this. I don't think I'm very good at it. My work has always been non-political".

But he did not avoid politics entirely. When asked about the rise of fascism, his answer was unequivocal.

"I am deeply concerned about the rise of fascism," he said. "I believe the world is going through a very critical phase right now, and I have always opposed the rise of fascism in any of its forms, whether in government, of course, in theater, in censorship, in literature, or in any other sphere".

Díaz Ayuso, standing beside him, celebrated his presence in Madrid. "We are the capital region of Spain, a region that loves art, music, and life," she said. "It makes us very excited that someone who has transported the magic of the streets of New York will now do the same with this city".

Mayor Martínez-Almeida added that Allen had been seen walking around Madrid "like just another madrileño" in the days before the press conference. He said the film would present Madrid to the world as "one of the great capitals, and where you have to be".

A Filmmaker Who Does Not Want to Retire

Allen, who will turn 91 in November, was asked about his plans to retire. He had announced his intention to retire in 2023, but he made it clear that this project was too compelling to turn down.

"I said I was going to retire, and I want to do it. Making films is exhausting," he said. "But I couldn't reject the idea of making this story in Madrid. It was too exciting for me".

He said he is approaching the film with the same care he has brought to all his work. "I want to do it well, finish it as best I can, and go home when the filming ends," he joked.

What Happens Next

Shooting begins on October 5. The production will use more than 30 locations across Madrid and Aranjuez, with Aranjuez serving as a key secondary location. The city of Madrid will not just be a backdrop but, according to the producers, "another character" in the film.

Post-production will be split between Madrid and New York. The film will be distributed in Spanish cinemas by Wanda Visión, with Daresay and WestEnd Films handling international sales.

The premiere is expected at an international festival, with Venice being a strong possibility. Allen's last film, Coup de Chance, premiered at Venice in 2023.

The film has no release date yet. But if the production follows the typical Allen timeline, it could be ready for festivals in late 2027 or early 2028.

A Final Thought

Woody Allen has made films in New York, London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and San Sebastián. Each city has become a character in his work, a place where his characters talk and worry and fall in love and make mistakes.

Now it is Madrid's turn. The city has paid for the privilege, and the conditions are clear. The film must show Madrid. It must name Madrid. It must make the world see Madrid.

And Allen, at 91, is still making films. Still writing. Still showing up. Still doing the only thing he has ever really wanted to do.

"I think I have the ingredients for a good film," he said. "Now comes the hard part, which is making it, and it has to live up to my expectations. I don't know if I will get there, but I will do everything I can".

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