Movies

12:09 PM PT -- Susan's husband, Harvey Swindall tells TMZ ... Susan passed away from heart attack Saturday morning. He recalls her as the most amazing person he'd ever met, adding he'll miss her very much.

Susan Backlinie, who played one of the most memorable roles in "Jaws," has died ... TMZ has learned.

The longtime actress and stuntwoman passed away at her home Saturday morning in Ventura, CA ... according to Matthew Templeton, the agent who handled her convention bookings. He says the cause of death has not been determined yet.

SB got her start in the acting world in 1975 with the role of Chrissie Watkins in Steven Spielberg's shark flick. She's the woman who goes skinny dipping in the ocean in the opening scene ... and gets savagely yanked back and forth by the shark before she's eaten.

Roger Corman, the legendary filmmaker of low budget horror flicks who launched the Hollywood careers of Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and many others, has died.

The so-called "King of the B-Movies" passed away Thursday at his home in Santa Monica, CA with his family surrounding him. His daughter Catherine confirmed his death, but did not disclose a cause.

In a statement posted to Instagram Saturday night, Roger's family described him as "generous, open-hearted and kind to all those who knew him," as well as a "devoted and selfless father."

MTV will not be celebrating the best of pop culture this year -- as we've learned their famous Movie & TV Awards show has been nixed ... but it ain't gone for good.

Sources close to production tell TMZ … the annual event has been put on pause in 2024, with the network choosing to skip out on this year's festivities. However, we're told the awards show is NOT canceled ... as it's set to return in 2025 with an updated format.

Unclear why MTV is passing on putting on the MTV Movie & TV Awards this year ... but there are a number of reasons why the network might be putting this on ice for a bit.

The apes are taking over the box office ... 'cause "The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" is pulling big money on opening weekend -- headed for $50m+.

According to The Hollywood Reporter ... 'KOTPOTA' made just north of $22 million Friday, and the outlet's projecting the film to make between $52M and 56M domestically by Monday.

Producers of the film can bang their chests even harder too ... 'cause apparently 'Planet of the Apes' movies crush it internationally too -- so, the overall haul's probably gonna be a heck of a lot bigger.

Tom Holland's "Romeo & Juliet" show on the West End's off to a rocky start ... 'cause the first preview has been canceled due to technical issues.

The star-crossed lovers were supposed to take the stage for the first time in front of paying audiences Saturday night at London's Duke of York theater ... but, Deadline reports ticketholders received an email canceling the show Friday.

According to the outlet ... showrunners said technical aspects of the play needed further refinement before audiences could see it -- so, sounds like they couldn't quite iron everything out in rehearsals.

Zendaya is a no-fly zone for almost all of the major fashion houses as long as her stylist Law Roach is calling the shots ... because he remembers which designers turned her down, and he won't let them forget it.

Law poured all sorts of tea when he was on "The Cutting Room Floor" podcast -- for instance, why Zendaya doesn't wear Chanel, Saint Laurent, Dior or Gucci when she's making her grand entrances to fashion events and movie premieres.

He explained that early in Z's career -- he's been dressing her since 14 -- he'd try to get big designers to work with her. He says, "I would write [to] the big five… and they would all say no. Try again next year. She’s too green. She’s not on our calendar."

Christy Martin's happy Sydney Sweeney's lacing up her boxing gloves ... saying she's thrilled Syd's playing her in a new biopic, and she wants to make sure her ring moves look authentic.

The boxing legend tells TMZ ... she's excited for Syd's performance, especially because she has a background in MMA and combat sports -- and says the actor's performance can prove dynamite comes in small packages!

Martin maintains she had no say in casting, and while she hasn't spoken to Sweeney yet ... she's anxious to let her know how honored she is she's taking the role.

Christy says she'll definitely be involved with Sydney's boxing training, specifically to help the star with her left hook ... giving her championship-level tools for the flick.

Joel McHale says the "Community" movie's probably shooting soon, lifting fans' spirits ... but, he's not sharing the set with Chevy Chase anytime soon.

We caught up with the actor in L.A. Friday ... and, we had to ask him about the flick fans have wanted since the show went off the air back in 2015.

JM says the time's finally come 'cause they're shooting the movie either in the fall or early next year ... though he qualifies that a bit since the movie's been promised a couple times before.

Martin Scorsese might have the follow-up to his classic "Raging Bull" ... 'cause apparently, he's living with a raging dog -- one that maimed his longtime collaborator.

Paul Schrader -- a legendary Hollywood screenwriter and director -- spoke with Variety to promote his new flick "Oh, Canada," and revealed he had a fearsome run-in with Marty's dog which pulled a move worthy of a "Goodfellas" gangster.

The way Schrader tells it ... he went over to Scorsese's crib in December for dinner -- and, when he went to pet a little Scottish terrier, it went full Cujo and bit him, ripping off and eating part of his thumb!

Hunter Biden reportedly has a new documentary in the works all about his life -- and now, it looks like Sean Penn has entered the chat ... who's a bit of a doc head himself these days.

The President's embattled son -- who's in the middle of a criminal case right now, and who'll be going to trial soon on gun-related charges -- was photographed out in Malibu Thursday, cozying up next to none other than the Oscar winner ... and they were chopping it up.

The pics were taken outside of Soho House, a social club there, and it looks like SP was enjoying a smoke while HB was trying to go somewhat incognito with shades and a hat.

Sydney Sweeney is all set to play a famous female boxer -- something she says she can't wait to morph into ... so, get ready to see her way differently than what you're used to!

The actress has been tapped to play brawler Christy Martin in a new biopic -- and yes, she's gonna have to get in fighting shape for the lead role ... which will likely see her bloodied and bruised, the way CM used to be in her heyday when she would brawl in the ring.

Sydney is ready to take on the challenge, as she shared with Deadline that she's prepared to tap into her sporty roots for the role.

Garfield may hate Mondays, but a couple theatergoers at "The Garfield Movie" hated each other more ... getting into an all-out brawl, with one of the guys being a pro boxer!

This wild video is making the rounds online -- and it captures the moment in a Spanish movie theater many are calling a real "cat fight" ... kicking off when a man in green athletic pants makes his way toward his waiting adversary at the bottom of the stairs.

People are trying to hold the guy back, but he gets through and the two dudes start going at it -- and the man who called out his opponent in green probably regrets it pretty quick.

11:19 AM PT -- Tyrese Gibson's ex-wife Norma Mitchell just upped the ante in her legal war with him -- now running to court in search of a temporary restraining ... bringing these same claims in her defamation suit as the crux for her argument on why she needs court-ordered protection, ditto for their daughter.

In her docs, obtained by TMZ, Norma says the IG posts Tyrese has been throwing up are grounds for harassment -- and she's asking the court to force him to take them down. She's also asking that he be ordered to refrain from talking about them online, plus ... she wants a judge to make him pay for therapy sessions pertaining to all this, and it adds up to a lot.

A judge has yet to rule on her TRO request.

American actress Mindy Sterling was in her early 40's when she was cast to play the screaming sidekick Frau Farbissina -- who would hang around Dr. Evil's evil lair and start trouble around the meeting room -- in the 1997 comedy "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery."

Mindy shared the big screen with none other than Mike Myers playing the womanizer, partier and British spy, Austin Powers/Dr. Evil and Verne Troyer as Austin Power's best friend and right-hand man.

In 1999, Sterling reprised her role in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" and again for "Austin Powers in Goldmember" in 2002.

Other big celebrities like Beyonce, Will Ferrell and Britney Spears tapped into this popular franchise too!

"Yeah Baby, Yeah!"

Kristen Stewart says "Barbie" alone can't undo ancient systems of oppression ... arguing Hollywood's allowing only a few female creators to make an impact.

The actor-turned-director appears on the cover of this month's Porter magazine ... and, she came out firing in the cover story -- calling H'Wood phony and blasting the industry for elevating a few female stars in the studio system.

Stewart says there's a process of checking off boxes, as if when studios fulfill a few requirements, the patriarchy will be thoroughly done away with in the industry. Here, KS name-drops Robbie and Maggie Gyllenhaal -- claiming studios like to make one of their films to pat themselves on the back and call it a great day for diversity.

Sam Raimi's wife is throwing in the towel on their marriage -- running to court to let a judge know she's ready to end things officially ... this after more than 3 decades together.

Gillian Greene -- a film producer and director herself -- just filed for divorce in Los Angeles ... and according to the docs -- obtained by TMZ -- she's citing irreconcilable differences. They have five children together ... but none of them are minors, so no custody issues here.

In the paperwork, Gillian indicates she wants spousal support -- and is asking to terminate SR's ability to receive alimony from her. When it comes to their assets and other property -- she says they gotta figure out what's what. There's no mention of a prenup on the petition.