Focus Featureshas picked up North American, Australian and New Zealand rights to WoodyAllen's second UK project Scoop, which is currently in post-production.

Scoop was shot in London last summer and starsScarlett Johansson as a journalism student who investigates a string of murdersand falls in love with a handsome Englishman. Hugh Jackman, Ian McShane andAllen also star.

Johanssonstarred in Allen's last release Match Point, which played in official selection inCannes 2005.

Ingenious Films,BBC Films, and Bank of Ireland are financing the project, and Letty Aronson andGareth Wiley are producing. Stephen Tenenbaum, Jack Rollins and Charles H Joffeserve as executive producers.

"I'vealways been very blessed by having great people distribute my films over theyears and this good fortune continues with Focus, a company I have enormousadmiration for," Allen said.

"I had agreat time shooting Scoop. I was over my head acting with Hugh Jackman and Ian McShane, whoare both amazing, and of course Scarlett Johansson, who I knew was sexier thanme and smarter but she also turned out to be faster and funnier."

"Scoop is another extraordinary reminder thatwhen Woody Allen matches his skills as a master filmmaker with his talents as acomic genius, filmmaking gets no better," Focus president James Schamussaid.