Focus Scoops Woody Allen's "Scoop" for the U.S. Oz and New Zealand

Focus Features has acquired U.S. Australian and New Zealand distribution rights to writer/director Woody Allen's latest film, "Scoop," currently in post-production, company president James Schamus announced Thursday. The film, shot on location last summer in London, stars Allen, Hugh Jackman (from the upcoming "X-Men: The Last Stand"), Scarlett Johansson (who starred in Allen's last effor, "Match Point"), and Ian McShane ("Deadwood"). Described as a "comtemporary comedy," Johansson plays a student journalist for a college newspaper. While visiting friends in London, she happens upon 'the scoop of a lifetime.' In the course of her investigation, she finds murder, mystery and a possible love interest with a British aristocrat (Jackman). Letty Aronson and Gareth Wiley produced the film, while Stephen Tenenbaum is the executive producer, with Jack Rollins and Charles H. Joffe co-executive-producers, and Nicky Kentish Barnes and Helen Robin co-producing. The picture was financed by Ingenious Films, BBC Films, and the Bank of Ireland. "'Scoop' is another extraordinary reminder that when Woody Allen matches his skills as a master filmmaker with his talents as a comic genius, filmmaking gets no better," commented Schamus in a statement. "Everyone here is delighted to be working with Woody Allen, Hugh Jackman, and Ian McShane for the first time, and with Scarlett Johansson again after our great success together on 'Lost in Translation.'" [Brian Brooks]