'Allen v Farrow' directors got Woody Allen to address accusations in the docuseries without ever interviewing him thanks to his audiobook

• Audio book excerpts of Allen reading his autobiography is used in the series.
• At one time the directors considered using a person who could impersonate Allen's voice.
• Allen's audio gives "a very clear perspective on what his side is," director Kirby Dick told Insider.

"Allen v Farrow" directors Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick knew it would be almost impossible to get Woody Allen on camera for their four-part docuseries.

It centers on his relationship with actress Mia Farrow and the sexual abuse allegations leveled against him by his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow, which he's denied.

But luckily, for the filmmakers, Allen voiced an audio book of his memoir.

Though "Allen v Farrow" only features archival footage of Allen, as the historically press shy filmmaker never responded to the series' numerous requests to speak, it also has audio excerpts of Allen reading his 2020 autobiography, "Apropos of Nothing," in which he just so happens to address some of the topics touched on in the series.

Dick remembers feeling a sense of a relief when he realized Allen did an audio version of his memoir.

"I was reading the book and thinking how can we get the book in and then I read online there was an audio book and I felt that was perfect," Dick told Insider. "I went to the editors and said, 'Let's start cutting with it.'"

In episode one of "Allen v Farrow," which aired Sunday on HBO, the audio is used when Allen speaks about the first time he met Farrow and his first impression of Farrow's children. In future episodes, Allen's voice speaks on much more sensitive issues, including his denial of the sexual abuse accusations.

"I think it's really important because it allows you to hear Woody Allen's perspective on really everything on what we covered throughout the series," Dick said of using the audiobook excerpts. "From very early on, meeting Mia, all the way through to events that were happening less than a year ago. It's over a three decade period."

But what would have happened if Allen hadn't done an audio version of his autobiography? Dick said there were all types of options they considered, even using a person who could impersonate Allen reading book excerpts.

"That was on the table," Dick said of the impersonator. "We were also playing around with a text-only option. We tried to keep all options open."

Thankfully, Allen's own voice was available to use.

"I think you definitely get a very clear perspective on what his side is," Dick said of the autobiography excerpts.

"Allen v Farrow" airs Sundays on HBO and is available on HBO Max.