More than 60 years after getting his start in television writing, Woody Allen will go back to the small screen. In fact, it could be your smartphone’s screen.
Amazon Studios announced today that it has signed Allen to write and direct his first television series ever, and it will air exclusively via Amazon’s Prime Instant Video service.
The announcement continues a huge week of news for Amazon’s streaming service, which won its first Golden Globe award for an original series on Sunday. When “Transparent” was named as 2014’s Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy, it further established Prime Instant Video as the chief rival for streaming giant Netflix.
Allen’s series, currently known as “Untitled Woody Allen Project,” will be a half-hour format and has been ordered for a full season. Amazon’s press release didn’t indicate how many episodes that will entail.
“I don’t how I got into this,” Allen said in a statement. “I have no ideas and I’m not sure where to begin.” The iconic comedian got his start at 19 years old by writing scripts for “The Tonight Show” and for entertainer Sid Caesar.
Roy Price, vice president of Amazon Studios said, “Woody Allen is a visionary creator who has made some of the greatest films of all-time, and it’s an honor to be working with him on his first television series.”
Allen, 79, was more self-deprecating about the partnership, adding, “My guess is that Roy Price will regret this.”
Clint Davis is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.
