Scarlett Johansson comments on Penelope Cruz in the Spanish actress’ cover story for Vogue magazine:

Johansson revealed that Allen wrote a part for the Spanish beauty after he saw her in her Oscar-nominated role in Volver.

However, he was so infatuated by her that he was reduced to a stuttering mess in her presence.

“Of course Woody was so unbelievably enamoured of her. He’d be like ‘Uh-uh-uh P-Penelope, P-Penelope. You’d think, ‘You are such a stuttering fool, man. Just get your stuff together.’ But what can you do – he’s an appreciator of fine things, and Penelope is quite fine,” she added.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona synopsis by Woody Allen (courtesy of Wild Bunch):

Vicky and Cristina, two young American girls, go to spend the summer in Barcelona. Vicky (Rebecca Hall) is straight-laced and about to be married. Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) is a free-spirit and very sexually adventurous.

They meet a flamboyant, Spanish artist (Javier Bardem) and his beautiful but insane ex-wife (Penelope Cruz). They all become involved in romantic adventures that are either hilarious or harrowing, depending on your point of view. Barcelona is seen as a very beautiful, romantic city like New York was in the movie, MANHATTAN.

- Woody Allen

When you think Woody Allen, actors like Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts and Mia Farrow are the names that most immediately come to mind. But these days, the king of all New York filmmakers has been busy injecting his usual recipe with some spicy Spanish flavoring.

“Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” star Javier Bardem told us of the film’s title. “That’s the name of the American characters, which are Rebecca Hall (The Prestige) and Scarlett Johansson. [They’re] the two girls that go to our salon; but I don’t know if that is going to be the final title or not.”

As any fan of the 71-year-old filmmaker knows, not only is Allen still doing his best to crank out a movie a year (he’s only missed 1991 since the early Eighties), but he has also maintained a Spielberg-esque routine of keeping his modestly-budgeted films as secret as possible.

(more…)

According to reports the Woody Allen Spanish Project finally has an official title – Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Here’s a report from The Guardian:

Woody Allen’s Barcelona-set film finally has a name – Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Spanish production company Mediapro revealed the moniker yesterday. The film stars Allen’s current muse, Scarlett Johansson, alongside Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, and is described by the film-maker as a “love letter” to Barcelona.

Apparently the title comes from the names of Rebecca Hall and Scarlett’s characters, Vicky and Christina, respectively.

Rising star Scarlett Johansson has worked with Woody Allen on three movies now, but “she’s not my muse,” the veteran director said Sunday.

“Scarlett is a wonderful actress, she reverberates off anyone she plays with, and she has a great future ahead of her,” Allen told a news conference. “But I never think of her as my muse.”

Asked to compare Johansson with longtime film partner Diane Keaton, Allen said: “There’s a very strong chemistry between Diane and myself,” noting that they acted in “eight or nine” films together.

Allen and Johansson acted together in Scoop (2006), and she appears in his 2005 film Match Point.

A drama set in Barcelona starring Johansson was finished “five days ago,” and does not have a title yet, Allen said.

Source: AFP

First of all, I came across gorgeous, vintage themed outtakes of Scarlett’s recent Saturday Night Live promos. 28 pics have been added in the gallery. Be sure to log in to view them!

I’ve also updated with 7 pictures from yesterday’s filming of Woody Allen Spanish Project, as well as a bunch from August 7.

I’ve added pictures of Scarlett strolling around Barcelona, Spain with Penelope Cruz while filming the new Woody Allen project. These were snapped yesterday. I really adore Scarlett’s look and you can also see her new tattoo there. And thanks to econchino, Jay, Enric, Olga and Marcos, we now have the Eight Legged Freaks Press Conference pictures back in the gallery! Much appreciated, guys!

GALLERY LINKS:
- On the Set > August 8, 2007
- Eight Legged Freaks Press Conference

I’ve updated with a set of pictures of Scarlett, Woody & co filming in Oviedo, Spain on August 3, 2007.

GALLERY LINKS:
- On the Set > August 3, 2007

Scarlett Johansson and Javier Bardem perform during the shooting of a scene for the new movie by Woody Allen, that was filmed at the Naranco mountain in Oviedo, Spain earlier today.

GALLERY LINKS:
- On the Set > August 1, 2007