Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn are staying at Madrid's Mandarin Oriental Ritz ahead of filming. The production is due to begin in Madrid and Aranjuez on October 5.
Filming is due to start on October 5. Before then, Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn were seen returning to the Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid after a day around the Spanish capital. Official production materials do not confirm where the couple are staying. The Ritz has been reported as their base.
The choice puts them at one of Madrid's best-known addresses. Their routine has included work linked to the film and visits to familiar places around the city.
That is the setting so far.
The project was officially presented in Madrid on October 1, 2026. Woody Allen appeared alongside actors Alexi Wasser and Peter Vives, Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso and the city’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida.
Before returning to the hotel, Allen and Soon-Yi visited a Torrons Vicens shop on the Paseo del Prado. They also ate at a well-known asador on Calle Hermosilla. Later, they went back to the Ritz.
The hotel occupies a historic building that opened in 1910. French architect Charles Mewès designed it. He also designed several major Ritz hotels in Europe. The building sits on the Paseo del Prado, close to the Museo del Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and El Retiro park.
That location makes it possible to explore central Madrid on foot. Madrid and Aranjuez are expected to provide the main settings for Allen's new film. Shooting is scheduled to start on October 5 and last about six weeks. More than 30 locations across the capital and nearby areas are expected to be used.
The schedule is set.
The Madrid project is expected to be Woody Allen’s 51st feature film. It remains without a final title and has been referred to in some reports by the working designation Wasp 2026.
The Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid sits at the highest end of the capital's hotel market. A Premier Junior Suite costs around €3,000 per night. It overlooks Plaza de la Lealtad and the Museo del Prado. The room combines the building's historic character with luxury accommodation in central Madrid.
Allen discussed the project at a press conference in Madrid on Thursday, October 1. He called it a comedy about romance, intrigue and infidelity in a diplomatic setting. Questions also touched on political issues and the camp at Puerta del Sol. Allen declined to engage with that subject and said he was not a political filmmaker.
His comments kept attention on the production. RTVE and other Spanish media have reported a budget of around €12 million. That figure includes approximately €1.5 million in support from the Madrid regional authorities, along with logistical assistance from the city.
For now, the practical details are clear. Allen is in Madrid with his wife. Filming is due to begin on October 5. Their reported base is a landmark hotel on the Paseo del Prado. Madrid authorities are also promoting the production as a way to show the city on screen.
The Ritz is more than a place to sleep. It links the film's arrival to a historic Madrid address and to the central locations Allen has already visited. The couple's reported movements have made the production visible through trips to shops, restaurants and city streets. The hotel offers a discreet base for the weeks ahead.
