Woody Allen admits that he has "no ideas" and is "not sure where to begin", despite signing on to write and direct a full season of an unnamed show for Amazon Prime Instant Video. The half-hour episodes - of a show yet to be created - will be available to Amazon subscribers in the US, UK and Germany in 2016.

Woody AllenWoody Allen is to create an original new series for Amazon

It's a huge coup for the on-demand service, which appeared to leapfrog Netflix in the streaming stakes after picking up two Golden Globes at the ceremony on Sunday, for flagship comedy-drama Transparent about a family dealing with a father who is transgender.  

Amazon Studios vice president Roy Price said it was an "honour" to be working with Allen - one of the world's greatest writer and directors.

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"Woody Allen is a visionary creator who has made some of the greatest films of all-time," he said.

"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."

Still, the collaboration is not without controversy. Just last year, Allen found himself at the centre of sexual abuse allegations after his daughter Dylan Farrow accused him in The New York Times of sexually assaulting her when she was 7-accusations that Allen denied.

Noting the "hypocrisy" of Hollywood, the Daily Beast's Kevin Fallon writes: "The people at Amazon, it seems, are game to plug their ears. This is the first major Hollywood deal Allen has made since the scandal dominated headlines in the last calendar year, and it's confusing and dejecting that Amazon would make it."

"...Transparent and the success of Amazon represents forward progress. Its partnership with Allen represents countless steps back. For all of us."

Before the Amazon series, Allen will release his latest movie - a currently untitled film about a philosophy professor in an existential crisis who gives his life new purpose when he enters into a relationship with his student. The movie stars Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix and should hit theaters in late 2015.

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