Javier Bardem has hit out at the "public lynching" Woody Allen has received

According to the Hollywood Reporter, he said at the Lumiere Festival in Lyon, France: "At the time I did 'Vicky Christina Barcelona', the allegations were already well known for more than 10 years, and two states in the U.S. deemed he was not guilty.

"If the legal situation ever changes, then I'd change my mind. But for now I don't agree with the public lynching that he's been receiving, and if Woody Allen called me to work with him again I'd be there tomorrow morning. He's a genius."

This isn't the first time the 'No Country For Old Men' actor has defended the 83-year-old director.

Speaking after Colin Firth vowed never to work with him again, while

Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Hall pledged to donate their salaries from Allen's movie 'A Rainy Day in New York' to the Time's Up initiative, Javier admitted he had been "shocked" by Hollywood's response.

He said: "I am very shocked by this sudden treatment.

"Judgements in the states of New York and Connecticut have cleared him. The legal situation today is the same as in 2007.

"If there was evidence that Woody Allen is guilty, yes, I would stop shooting with him, but I doubt it."

And Javier - who has children Leo, seven, and Luna, five, with wife Penelope Cruz - isn't the only star to defend the 'Annie Hall' director.

Alec Baldwin has branded his treatment "unfair and sad", while his former partner Diane Keaton took to Twitter to support her former partner.

She posted in January: "Woody Allen is my friend and I continue to believe him."