Movies

George Santos is caught allegedly spinning the truth once again ... this time claiming he worked on the Spider-Man musical, another apparent lie.

That's right ... a new report from Bloomberg claims while Santos was running for Congress in 2021, he told a group of potential donors he worked as one of the producers on the musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark."

As has almost become automatic, Bloomberg reports Santos' claim was shut down by the show's lead producer, Michael Cohl. Cohl says Santos was not a producer on the musical, and his name never appeared in the playbills for the show.

"Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark" ran from 2011 to 2014 with a massive $75 million budget. However, the show became notorious for it's delay in opening and injuries to actors performing stunts.

Of course, it's just the latest in a series of Santos' alleged lies ... including when he said his mom died in 9/11, his education and even accusations he stole money from a charity aimed to help a former military dog with a tumor.

There's been a lot of blame placed on the armorer on the set of "Rust" -- by both the public and law enforcement -- but her attorney says she did everything in her power to ensure everyone working on the project was safe.

We had Jason Bowles, the attorney for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed on "TMZ Live" Friday who talked at length about his client's case ... and shared what he believes were some of the failures that led to the death of Halyna Hutchins.

Bowles says Hannah asked assistant director, Dave Halls, to let her know when Alec Baldwin was going to handle the gun that fired the fatal shot so she could inspect it and give Baldwin proper instruction on how to handle the weapon.

Bowles says Halls never gave Hannah a heads up, simply handing the gun over to Alec without following any sort of safety procedure.

What's more -- Bowles claims Hannah was stretched very thin on set -- taking up both the duties as armorer and handling props.

Bowles tells us at one point, Hannah sent an email to production letting them know she needed to focus more of her time on the armorer duties ... a request he says was denied.

Liam Hemsworth is clearly over Miley Cyrus, and the evidence is compelling -- locked in a passionate kiss with Laura Dern -- EXCEPT, it's just a movie!

The 32-year-old stud and the 55-year-old ageless beauty were filming "Lonely Planet" in downtown LA. Imagine driving down a street and seeing these 2 making out ... kind of awesome, until you realize it's all for Netflix.

Liam's been taking heat lately from ex-wife Miley, who recently dropped "Flowers" on his birthday, seemingly shading him.

Liam's been mum over the song ... probably because his mouth is otherwise engaged.

Austin Butler, who starred as Elvis Presley in the 2022 biopic, admits he has a problem ... he's still trying to shake off The King's southern twang.

Butler was interviewed for Friday's episode of "The Graham Norton Show" and addressed his Elvis drawl nearly two years after the film wrapped.

Austin said ... "I am getting rid of the accent, but I have probably damaged my vocal cords with all that singing. One song took 40 takes!"

Austin got clowned at the 2023 Golden Globes when he won Best Actor ... sounding like the King of Rock 'n Roll.

After his speech, Austin said, "I don’t think I sound like [Elvis] still, but I guess I must 'cause I hear it a lot."

He added ... the movie "was my only focus in life, so I’m sure that there’s just pieces of my DNA that will always be linked in that way.”

His voice coach agreed, saying Austin's "accent is genuine" and "might stay forever."

Vanessa Hudgens and her MLB player boyfriend, Cole Tucker, have just taken their relationship to a whole 'nother level ... TMZ Sports has learned they're engaged!!!

A source close to the two tells us ... Tucker popped the question sometime at the end of 2022.

It's unclear when exactly the question was popped ... but the couple was in Paris in November -- a lovely place for a potential engagement to go down.

The "High School Musical" star and the Colorado Rockies utility man have been dating since 2020 -- and have been nearly inseparable since they initially became romantic.

Vanessa's been spotted at a ton of his baseball games over the past couple years -- and in Tucker's offseason, he's spent nearly all of his free time with the actress.

Just a few days ago, Hudgens proclaimed her love for the baseball player in a mushy social media post, writing, "I’ll stop the world and melt with you ❤️🥰."

Tucker's written similar messages to Hudgens on his Instagram too.

It was quite a 2022 for Tucker ... he started the year as a Pittsburgh Pirate before moving on to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He ultimately signed as a free agent with the Rockies this offseason -- meaning he and Vanessa are now going to be spending a whole lot of time together in Denver in 2023.

Irene Cara, the singer most known for her '80s hits in "Flashdance" and "Fame", died as a result of hypertension and high cholesterol ... TMZ has learned.

In medical docs, obtained by TMZ, the medical examiner in Pinellas County has ruled Irene's official cause of death is Arteriosclerotic and Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease ... it was also noted Irene was diabetic.

As we reported, the singer passed away at the age of 63 in November inside her Florida home.

Irene's best known for her iconic song "What a Feeling" from the '80s flick "Flashdance" ... she won an Oscar for Best Original Song thanks to the hit.

Irene's also the woman behind the song "Fame" from the movie of the same name ... she received a Golden Globe nomination for "Best Actress" for her role in the film.

Fans will remember Irene from other films as well... including "City Heat," costarring Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds. She also appeared in "Certain Fury", playing opposite Tatum O'Neal.

Keanu Reeves is getting protection from a man he claims showed up at his home, apparently hell-bent on trying to prove they're somehow related.

The "Matrix" star's lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, beelined it to court Tuesday asking the judge for a temporary restraining order ... to protect Keanu and his partner, Alexandra Grant, from a 38-year-old man named Bryan Dixon -- who he claims is transient and has been harassing them for months.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ, Keanu hired a security firm to investigate Dixon after claiming he kept showing up at the actor's home uninvited, and finding different ways onto the property.

The docs say Dixon trespassed 6 times from November through January -- the first time, on November 5, he entered through a side gate and fell asleep in the backyard before getting the boot.

Dixon allegedly came back the next morning and left a "suspicious and alarming" backpack on Keanu's property, which they say included a DNA testing kit “apparently intended to use on Mr. Reeves in a delusional attempt to prove they are blood-related."

Keanu's legal team says Dixon is a complete stranger to the actor, but they've discovered some red flags -- for instance, Dixon currently has a bench warrant issued against him in Rhode Island for alleged breaking and entering with felonious intent, possessing burglary tools and vandalism.

Keanu’s lawyers claim the guy's rap sheet goes back 2 decades.

What's more, Keanu's camp claims Dixon keeps posting disturbing messages on social media referring to himself as "Jasper Keith Reeves" and has set out to assign all of his personal "rights" to Keanu and put Keanu in "charge" of him.

The judge granted a temporary restraining order barring Dixon from coming within 100 yards of Keanu and Alexandra.

Logic's love for the cult classic, "Clerks" inspired him to do a reboot, of sorts, for his own "Highlife " -- and he even got Kevin Smith to ensure it was shot properly!!!

The Maryland-bred rapper made the trip last October to the actual Quick Stop convenience store found in the OG films in Leonardo, NJ ... and has long credited Kevin for inspiring creativity in his own art.

Logic actually missed a chance to appear in last year's "Clerks 3" ... Kevin sent him a DM to recruit him, but Logic was on a social media sabbatical and never got the message.

They were still able to connect for the "Highlife" video, though, and so did Kevin's "Clerks" costars Jason Mewes, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Scott Schiaffo, Brian O'Halloran and Scott Mosier.

The video is filled with cameos, giving nothing but nostalgia along the way!!!

Logic's forthcoming album is titled "College Park," a nod to his DMV upbringing and it's slated to drop February 24.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck planned to renovate her Bel-Air home after the couple got married, but they've pulled the plug on that plan and now she's selling ... with the prospect of an eye-popping profit.

J Lo has just listed her home -- a stone's throw from Hotel Bel-Air -- for $42,500,000. Now get this ... in 2016, she bought the property from Sela Ward for $28 mil. You do the math.

The estate is almost 8 acres, an insanely large property for the area. The main house is more than 12,000 square feet, with 9 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms.

It's got all the bells and whistles ... an infinity pool, a 30-seat screening room, gym, guest house, 100-seat amphitheater, and on and on and on. And it's got central air!!!

The house is listed by super agent Brett Lawyer from Carolwood Estates.

Now here's the thing ... Ben and Jen have been looking for a home for well over a year, and have seen literally scores of properties.

We're told they're currently in a rental and are on the hunt again.

Tiffany Haddish says she's shocked there's a push to get her written out of the long-anticipated "Girls Trip" sequel -- but she's defiant, telling us there's no way she'd miss it ... no matter what Twitter haters think.

Tiff seemed genuinely surprised outside The Ivy Tuesday evening when she was asked what she thought about the instant backlash when it was announced last week "Girls Trip 2" was finally going to be made ... and with the OG cast of Tiffany, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Regina Hall.

Well, she makes it crystal clear that as long as her costars want her to do the movie ... Tiffany WILL be there, regardless of any controversy.

The issue is, some fans think Haddish should not be included this time around, because of the child molestation lawsuit that was filed last year against Tiffany and Aries Spears.

As we reported, the suit was dismissed and the plaintiff even publicly forgave Tiffany ... saying she knows the actress would never harm her or her family.

As for the sequel to the 2017 comedic hit ... Tiffany told us she "can't be concerned with what other people think. I gotta be concerned about how I feel" ... and she says she's feeling really good about herself these days.

BTW, even though it's been announced the film will be set in Ghana, and everyone's on board ... Tiffany seems less than convinced it's actually gonna happen. As she put it, "Y'know every year they say this."

Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis may have been hugging recently, but not because they've resolved their conflicts -- TMZ's learned there's a dogfight over how child support will be handled.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Jason's New York lawyer, Bill Beslow, has gone to a New York judge to resolve all child support issues. The reason it's sticky is that last July both a New York judge and a California judge ruled all CUSTODY issues should be handled in L.A.

We've learned Beslow went to a New York court January 4 and asked the judge to handle all child SUPPORT issues, and the judge set a hearing date for February 15.

Sources connected to Jason say he does not want any child support from Olivia. We're told he's willing to pay her "a reasonable amount" in child support either decided by the 2 of them or a New York judge.

Our sources say Olivia is baffled because both a New York judge and a California judge have already said this is an L.A. and not a New York case. She wants both custody and child support decided in L.A.

Beslow is appealing the decision to have custody decided in L.A. As for Olivia, we know her lawyer, Laura Wasser, and Olivia's New York lawyer have filed legal docs asking the judge on February 15 to dismiss Beslow's move to handle child support in New York, so a judge in L.A. can decide all issues involving the children.

Short story ... this dispute is far from resolved.

As for Olivia and Jason hugging a few days ago ... we are told very clearly -- they are NOT getting back together.

An actor who appeared in the Oscar-winning film, "Dances With Wolves," was arrested in Nevada for sexually assaulting underage girls and other serious felonies, ending a two-decade crime spree.

Nathan Chasing Horse was rounded up Tuesday by a SWAT team near his home in Las Vegas, where he lives with his 5 wives. He reportedly planned for his wives to take "suicide pills" and prepare for a shootout with police. He was booked in the Clark County Jail for child abuse or neglect, sex assault, sex assault against a child and sex trafficking of an adult.

According to the 50-page search warrant, Chasing Horse targeted young Native American girls and used his good reputation among tribes in the U.S. and Canada to lure them into his secret web. Known as a "medicine man," Chasing Horse performed healing rituals and held spiritual get-togethers ... but it was allegedly all to exploit his victims as the leader of a cult named, "The Circle."

Las Vegas cops say they've identified six alleged victims, some of whom were under 13. Chasing Horse allegedly recorded his sexual assaults and arranged sexual encounters between his victims and other men who would pay him.

The police investigation began with a tip in Oct. 2020.

Sex crime allegations against Chasing Horse stretch back to the early 2000s and not just in Nevada, but also in Montana and South Dakota. Chasing Horse has not been charged with crimes in those other states.

Alec Baldwin has now officially been charged with a crime over the fatal shooting of cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins on his "Rust" movie set, and the D.A. listed a litany of safety lapses which she says sit squarely at Baldwin's feet.

According to the charging document, the D.A. says Baldwin knew the drill ... that the armorer should have been present, checking the gun to make sure it was safe, and Baldwin knew that ... yet he relied on the assistant director who had no authority to clear the weapon for use.

The D.A. says Baldwin was supposed to undergo firearms training but failed to do so. Adding Baldwin was then supposed to get minimal training for 30 minutes, but was on his cell phone for most of that time speaking with his family.

The D.A. honed in on TV interviews Baldwin did, where he claimed not to have fired the weapon ... something the FBI and prosecutors dispute. The D.A. states there are multiple photos and videos that clearly show Baldwin with his finger on the trigger.

The district attorney goes on to say, as the producer of the movie, Baldwin should never have allowed the production company to hire Hannah Gutierrez-Reed as she lacked the requisite certifications and experience for the job.

And, the D.A. lays the numerous safety lapses on the set at Baldwin's doorstep, saying he did not address those issues, which even resulted in crew members walking off the set in protest.

The D.A. says Baldwin violated the first rule of gun safety -- never point a firearm, loaded or not, at another person.

And, the D.A. says Baldwin was in 40 films in which guns were an integral part, so he should have known all the protocols.

Prosecutors in Santa Fe County, NM have formally filed involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film's head armorer, is also charged with involuntary manslaughter. They're both facing up to five years in prison if convicted.

As for assistant director Dave Halls, he's already agreed to plead guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon -- a misdemeanor. Per the deal, Halls will receive a suspended sentence and six months probation.

Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, announced earlier this month Alec and Hannah would be prosecuted for the fatal shooting ... with special prosecutor, Andrea Reeb saying, "The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for safety on the 'Rust' film set. In New Mexico, there is no room for film sets that don't take our State's commitment to gun safety and public safety seriously."

Reeb added ... "If any one of these three people - Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or David Halls - had done their job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. It's that simple."

Alec denies any wrongdoing, insisting he was just following instructions during a rehearsal where he was practicing how to position the pistol for a "cross draw" scene in a chapel ... as director, Joel Souza and Halyna figured out camera angles.

Halls told Baldwin it was a "cold" gun ... meaning it was unloaded and safe, and Baldwin says he relied on that assurance.

Hannah was not in the chapel at the time of the shooting ... but Alec has said it was her job to prepare and check the prop guns.

The shooting occurred back in October 2021 and Alec was visibly torn up immediately after the incident. Alec repeatedly claimed he bore no responsibility for what he called a tragic accident, insisting he did NOT pull the trigger that fateful day.

The FBI disagreed with Alec ... the feds issued a report concluding the pistol would not fire without someone pulling the trigger ... and the D.A. has said she trusts the FBI's analysis.

Halyna's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Alec and others involved in the production, claiming Baldwin and others were responsible for the lapse in safety protocols that led to Halyna's death on the set.

Baldwin and the Hutchins settled the lawsuit, agreeing to finish filming "Rust" ... with Halyna's widower, Matthew Hutchins, becoming an executive producer on the film.

Actress Lisa Loring, best known for her portrayal of Wednesday Addams in the iconic TV show, "The Addams Family," has died.

Her daughter, Vanessa, tells TMZ ... Lisa passed away Saturday at a hospital in Burbank, CA, after she suffered a stroke due to high blood pressure.

Lisa was just 6 when she landed the role of pig-tailed Wednesday Addams in the 1964 dark comedy sitcom. Although she played the part for only 2 years, her depiction of the character inspired other actresses who portrayed Wednesday in later films based on the TV show.

Jenna Ortega, who took on the role of Wednesday in the recent Netflix series, also gave props to Lisa in an interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show.

After "The Addams Family," Lisa stayed mostly in TV with appearances in "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.," "Fantasy Island" and "Barnaby Jones." She also played Cricket Montgomery on "As the World Turns" in the early '80s. Her final credit was the 2015 movie, "Doctor Spine."

Lisa was 64.

Abigail Breslin is officially a married woman ... revealing she tied the knot with her longtime lover Ira Kunyansky!

The "Zombieland" star took to IG, Sunday night ... telling fans she had exchanged vows with her now-husband over the weekend. She wrote," 01.28.23❤️💍❤️ married my bestest friend. @richruski" .. while sharing a photo of the two at their wedding.

Before that, she made a post showing off THAT finger with her dazzling engagement ring and a wedding band ... saying "ya girl got married y’all."

Her hubby Ira also proudly posted his bride, sharing a pic of them on their big day saying ... "Love my other second half ❤️ @abbienormal9".

The newlyweds have been romantically linked since 2017 when they first started dating.

Ira popped the big question last February, and Abbie had a pretty funny reaction to his proposal when she posted it ... her caption read, "I was like, 'duh. #engagedyall".

Since then, Abigail has shared some of their special moments with fans -- on New Year's they posed for a photo, as they rang in 2023 together.

Amy Winehouse fans who got PO'd seeing Marisa Abela in costume for the biopic probably aren't gonna be happy with this latest update, 'cause it's still looking a little ... off.

TMZ obtained photos that were taken out in London Sunday afternoon, where the actress was in full costume portraying the late singer. As you probably know by now, Marisa was tapped to play Amy -- but people online are crying foul, saying it's a complete miscast.

Considering the massive amount of criticism early set photos received in the past few weeks, you might've thought the studio would make a tweak or two to Marisa's makeup or something -- but alas, as seen in these pics, they're forging ahead with what they got here.

Unclear what sort of scene they were shooting exactly -- but eyewitnesses tell us it looked like Amy's onscreen dad, Eddie Marsan, was dropping her off at a rehab center. That would make sense ... this film is focusing on Amy's rise to fame in the early aughts, when she was still living in London. By then, she'd already been using substances, alcohol and otherwise.

The backlash over Marisa's casting is likely to continue as the movie moves along in production -- frankly, MA looks nothing like Amy ... and while the real Amy Winehouse's own father says it's not a big deal at all, that's likely not gonna appease the diehard fanbase.

It's a bit weird everyone's so riled up over the fact Marisa's not a dead ringer for Amy. Truth be told, Hollywood's been in the habit of casting actors who don't necessarily look exactly like the iconic musicians they play, especially of late. Austin Butler excluded, of course.

Plus, ya gotta imagine that the producers -- who are working on this with a blessing from Amy's estate -- want to do her legacy justice ... so a little trust goes a long way for this sort of thing. As they say, it's not always about the look -- but, more so, the essence.

Bottom line ... Marisa still has the potential to wow everybody, so we'll just have to wait and see what comes of the performance when 'Back to Black' eventually hits theaters.