Spanish actor Javier Bardem to star in new Woody Allen film

Oscar-nominated Spanish actor Javier Bardem, seen here on 16 Februray, will join Penelope Cruz in the cast of Woody Allen's upcoming film to be shot later this year in Barcelona, according to a report.[AFP]

Oscar-nominated Spanish actor Javier Bardem will join Penelope Cruz in the cast of Woody Allen's upcoming film to be shot later this year in Barcelona, according to a report.

The news appeared in ABC newspaper, citing the actor's agent.

Cruz, nominated for an Oscar this year for best actress for her leading role in Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's "Volver", and Bardem last worked together in Bigas Luna's 1992 dramtic comedy "Jamon Jamon".

Allen has shot two of his last features in London -- "Match Point" and "Scoop" -- and he announced last year that he planned to film a still untitled film in Barcelona in 2007.

The movie will be in English and Spanish and will reportedly tell the story of a group of young Americans who arrive in the northeastern Spanish coastal city.

Bardem starred in the hit "The Sea Inside", which took the 2004 Oscar for best foreign language film, and was nominated for best actor in 2001 for his role playing Cuban author Reinaldo Arenas in "Before Night Falls".