Woody Allen’s New Paris-Set Film to Star Valerie Lemercier and Niels Schneider (EXCLUSIVE)

After “Midnight in Paris,” Woody Allen will return to the French capital for his 50th movie which he’s described as a “poisonous romantic thriller” with a pair of French stars, Valerie Lemercier (“Aline”) and Niels Schneider (“Love Affair(s))”. Other French actors confirmed include Elsa Zylberstein (“Simone”), Lou de Laage (The Mad Women’s Ball”) and Melvil Poupaud (“One Fine Morning”).

The untitled film, the plot of which is being kept under wraps, will start filming next month and will be entirely in French with a budget in the $10-million range. Allen has described the film to be similar to “Match Point,” in that it would be “exciting, dramatic and also very sinister.”

More from Variety

• Woody Allen Walks Back Claims, Says He Has 'No Intention of Retiring'

• Woody Allen Plans French-Language Film to Shoot in Paris, But Financing Not Yet in Place

• Woody Allen Tells Alec Baldwin He Might End Directing Career Soon: 'A Lot of the Thrill Is Gone'

Allen sparked headlines earlier this week after Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia ran a story reporting that the New York-based filmmaker had told them he was planning on retiring. Allen’s representative then issued a statement saying that the director had “no intention of retiring.”

Lemercier is a popular French actor-director whose latest film “Aline,” a movie about Celine Dion, world premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and earned her a best actor prize at the Cesar Awards. Schneider is a French actor who is currently finishing the shoot of Xavier Giannoli’s crime series “Tikkoun” and previously starred in Emmanuel Mouret’s “Love Affair(s).” The movie will reteam Allen with the team that worked on « Midnight in Paris, » notably Raphael Benoliel at Firstep, and costume designer Sonia Grande.

Allen has been shooting films in Europe for decades; for instance “Match Point,” “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and “Midnight in Paris,” which won an Oscar for best original screenplay. But he has now lost major support in the U.S. following the resurfacing of abuse allegation involving his daughter Dylan and his comments about the #MeToo movement. He’s believed to be facing more difficulties to find big-name American actors willing to star in his films. Rebecca Hall, Timothée Chalamet and Greta Gerwig, for instance, said they regretted working with Allen.

Allen’s latest movie, “Rifkin’s Festival,” was filmed in Spain with a cast led by Elena Anaya, Louis Garrel and Gina Gershon. Despite the allegation, Allen’s movies have typically been popular in France, often scoring the highest international box office performances in the country. But “Rifkin’s Festival,” which opened the San Sebastian Film Festival in 2020, sold under 100,000 tickets in France.

Best of Variety

• From Maverick and Rooster to Vecna and Eleven: The Best Couples Costumes to Wear This Halloween

• The Best Pop Culture Halloween Costumes for 2022: From 'Top Gun' to 'Euphoria'

• 'The Sopranos' Gets the Funko Pop Treatment in New Collectibles Release

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.