Woody Allen Hoping ‘to End His Self-Imposed Exile’ in Hollywood Following Sexual Abuse Allegations

Moviemaker Woody Allen is desperate to unburn bridges and reconnect with old friends in Los Angeles — but he’s facing an uphill battle with most Tinseltown folks, sources say.

“Woody still has an apartment in New York City, but he’s been spending more time in Europe, where people still accept him as a filmmaker and where he can get funding and distribution for his films. But he’s ready to end his self-imposed exile,” an insider explains.

Notoriously private Woody, 89, stepped into the spotlight on July 26, going out to dinner with wife Soon-Yi Previn, 54, in Santa Monica, Calif., at Giorgio Baldi, a restaurant favored by entertainment’s elite.

“He wants to be seen and spoken to, and he’s seeking out Hollywood industry types who will help him lift the ban placed over his head,” the insider shares.

The Academy Award–winning Annie Hall director hasn’t made a movie in America in years. His last effort — 2023’s Coup de Chance, a French-language dramedy primarily shot in Paris — was stymied in the U.S. by distribution challenges.

Woody’s stateside career appeared to stall in the wake of the #MeToo movement amid resurfaced sexual abuse allegations.

Dylan Farrow — Woody’s adopted daughter with ex Mia Farrow — had accused him of sexually molesting her and reiterated the claims as an adult in 2014 and 2017.

Woody denied the allegations and was never criminally charged, and two investigations failed to find evidence to substantiate the claims — but sources suggest he was still unofficially blacklisted in Hollywood.

According to the insider, Woody’s relationship with Soon-Yi — the adult adopted daughter of Rosemary’s Baby actress Mia and her ex-husband André Previn — also tarnished his name.

“He wants to reestablish himself as one of America’s best directors and get some backing from American moviemakers, but he’s finding it tough,” the insider confides. “Woody’s trying to hang out with industry movers and shakers, but they’re not being so friendly.”

Adds the insider, “It’s a huge disappointment for Woody, who wanted to make his mark in Hollywood one last time. If he’s unsuccessful, he’ll be forced to crawl back to Europe in shame.”