"Woody Allen has finally begun work on his long-promised opera, a collaboration with The Exorcist director William Friedkin. Speaking to reporters at a press conference to promote his new film Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which stars Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, earlier this week, the 72-year-old Allen said: "I made this promise to do it three years ago and I thought I'd be dead in three years and it's never gonna happen so I said, 'OK.' Then, I didn't die and the time came and so I started work on this opera on Tuesday."
Allen's part of the deal, a comedic, 55-minute venture with a cast of 10, was reported in June last year to be debuting as part of the LA Opera's 2008-09 season in September. Given he started it last week, that may now be a little optimistic." [guardian]
