Amazon signs up Woody Allen for first TV show

Amazon has pulled off a coup by signing up director Woody Allen’s first ever television series.

Allen will write and create the series with Amazon Studios, with on-demand service Amazon Prime Instant Video acting as the distribution platform.

“I don’t know how I got into this. I have no ideas and I’m not sure where to begin,” said Allen, who is best known for films such as Annie Hall, Blue Jasmine and Vicky Christina Barcelona. “My guess is that [Amazon Studios’ VP] Roy Price will regret this.”

The series has received a full season order, which separates it from most other original Amazon series in that they are usually put through an online pilot process that takes into account customer feedback.

The show will debut concurrently in the US, UK and Germany at an unspecified date.

“Woody Allen is a visionary creator who has made some of the greatest films of all-time, and it’s an honour to be working with him on his first television series,” said Price.

“From Annie Hall to Blue Jasmine, Woody has been at the creative forefront of American cinema and we couldn’t be more excited to premiere his first TV series exclusively on Prime Instant Video next year.”

Amazon Studios counts series such as Mozart in the Jungle and Golden Globe-winning Transparent among its biggest TV efforts to date.