Woody Allen

Woody Allen

Woody Allen's next movie will be called 'Magic in the Moonlight'.

The notoriously-secretive filmmaker is keeping the plot of the film - which he will write, direct and produce - under wraps but he has begun shooting the movie in the south of France.

As was announced earlier this year, Colin Firth and Emma Stone have the lead roles in the picture, while Eileen Atkins, Marcia Gay Harden, Hamish Linklater, Simon McBurney and Jacki Weaver also appear.

Stills released from the set of the production appear to suggest it is a period piece.

'Magic in the Moonlight' is expected to be released some time in 2014 and the director - who turns 76 tomorrow (17.10.13) - will be hoping to emulate the success of the last movie he filmed in France.

'Midnight in Paris' - which starred Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams - took in $151 million at the worldwide box office when it was released in 2011 and saw Allen scoop an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

The director's latest movie, 'Blue Jasmine', has also been tipped for Academy Award success.