'Revenant' Bear Actor Alleged Fraudsters Bear-ly Knew What They Were Doing ... Em-bear-assing Attempt

The alleged insurance fraudsters who cops say used a bear suit and damaged several vehicles should've gone to the pros ... 'cause the guy who played the bear that attacks Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Revenant" has notes.

We spoke with Glenn Ennis -- the actor and stuntman in the extremely realistic bear costume (with a CGI assist) who absolutely mauled DiCaprio in the film -- and he tells us he finds the details of the alleged scheme hilarious.

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NOT SMARTER THAN YOUR AVERAGE BEAR
TMZ.com

ICYMI, some California guys allegedly tore up their high-end cars, wearing a cheap bear costume, and tried to get an insurance company to pay for the damages. Ennis says those guys needed to do more research on how bears move ... 'cause it was pretty clear to him that this wasn't a real bear ransacking the cars.

'Spy Kids' Star Robert Vito GF's TRO Request Granted ... After His Domestic Violence Arrest

Update

2:27 PM PT -- Lindsey Jennings' TRO against Robert Vito has been granted.

The ex-girlfriend of 'Spy Kids' actor Robert Vito is asking a judge to order him to stay away from her ... days after he was arrested for felony domestic violence.

According to a new legal document obtained by TMZ ... the actor's ex is seeking a temporary restraining order against Vito -- after making several troubling accusations.

Lebron James, Netflix Sued By Filmmaker ... You Jacked My Movie Script!!!

A filmmaker has just sued Netflix, LeBron James, the NBA star's production company and a host of others ... claiming they stole one of his scripts -- and then used it as the basis for one of their recent hit basketball movies.

Rob Grabow -- a screenwriter who directed the 2023 drama "The Year of the Dog" -- spelled out the allegations in a 25-page lawsuit ... that was filed on Thursday in a California federal court.

Grabow states he had written a script for "The Gift of the Game" -- and it was all about a Native American high schooler and his efforts to lead his basketball team to a state title.

'Wicked' Star Cynthia Erivo I Still Get Nervous Before I Sing!!!

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STAGE FRIGHT
TMZ.com

Cynthia Erivo is a Grammy award-winning singer, but she still gets nervous when she has to show off her pipes ... admitting as much on camera.

We got the "Wicked" star Wednesday at ABC Studios in New York City and our photog asked her about her live, impromptu duet with costar Ariana Grande on "TODAY" ... when they sang Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" for Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie.

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A WICKED DUET
NBC

Cynthia says she still gets nervous every time she sings ... and it was no different live on air.

Cameron Diaz 'Back In Action' With Jamie Foxx, Ending Hiatus!!!

Cameron Diaz is back from her lengthy Hollywood hiatus, joining Jamie Foxx for a new Netflix movie, which also marks his big comeback after a well-documented health scare.

The trailer for "Back in Action" -- a totally fitting name for both of them -- is packed with adrenaline, showing Cameron coming out of her 11-year acting retirement swinging and kicking some serious butt alongside Foxx.

The movie centers on their characters, Emily and Matt, getting pulled back into the espionage world when their cover’s blown, years after they left their CIA spy lives behind to start a family.

Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande 'Can't Help' Crying Over 'Wicked' ... Still 'Sorry,' Though!!!

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CHANGED FOR GOOD
NBC

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are feeling "Popular" ahead of the release of "Wicked" ... admitting they've cried through a number of press interviews for the musical movie.

The actresses, who play Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in the new flick, stopped by "Today" to discuss their special bond ... revealing it's part of the reason they've shed a tear or two while promoting the movie.

Cynthia said a few journalists have wept with them while discussing the highly anticipated movie, sharing they've broken out in tears over all the love. The internet has certainly had a field day over the pair's tearful reactions, too ... roasting both Cynthia and Ari in a number of posts on X.

Pedro Pascal Upstaged by Transgender Sis ... in Revealing Cutout Dress at 'Gladiator II' Premiere

Pedro Pascal may be the star of the new 'Gladiator' flick, but all eyes were on his transgender sister, Lux, at the London premiere of the action movie.

Check it out ... Pedro posed for photographers in an all-black getup for a screening at London's Leicester Square -- but the "Gladiator II" actor paled in comparison to his sister, who was by his side on the red carpet.

While the evening wasn't about Lux, she certainly stole the spotlight ... wearing a revealing black dress that boldly showed off a saucy amount of skin. The gown featured a diamond-shaped cutout situated at the bottom off her ribcage ... and ran all the way down to her lower thigh, giving photogs an ample look at her curves.

50 Cent SMH @ Louisiana Ending Film Tax Credit ... My Event Killed Crime For 2 Weeks Straight!!!

50 Cent's incentive to build a film empire in Shreveport, Louisiana looks to be going out in a wash ... the state's House of Representatives decided this week to eliminate its $150 million tax incentive -- just as his operation was getting revved up!!!

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux spelled out the doomsday for the tax credit to local outlets, and didn't have any resolutions top of mind for 50 Cent when asked about the future.

50 gave the people of Louisiana words of encouragement by preaching patience on Thursday .... but like the mayor said, things are looking grim.

Dwayne Johnson 'Red One' Needs 'Oppenheimer'-Size Screen ... Comparison Trolled Online

Dwayne Johnson is comparing his new flick "Red One" to "Oppenheimer" ... and, his take is bombing online -- with fans calling it laughable to stack up the 2 films.

Here's the deal ... in a clip posted online by IMAX, Johnson told a story about going to see Christopher Nolan's World War II epic while filming his Christmas flick, "Red One" -- saying he went to the same theater where Nolan watches his films and even sat in the director's preferred chair.

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JUST AS GOOD

While DJ says he was impressed, he claims he immediately thought about the possibilities regarding 'R1' ... basically, if you put the film in an IMAX theater it would be "game over."

Knicks' OG Anunoby Nearly Barrels Into Anne Hathaway ... Look Out!!!

Anne Hathaway's courtside seats Wednesday night might have been just a little too courtside ... 'cause she nearly got a faceful of a sprinting Knicks player!!

Check out video from the first quarter of New York's tilt with Chicago at Madison Square Garden ... OG Anunoby almost crashed right into the actress and her son as he hunted for a loose ball.

The 6-foot-7 232-pound forward tipped a Josh Giddey pass -- and then ran after it ... but thankfully, he was able to put the brakes on before he did damage to Hathaway.

Denzel Washington Locked Lips W/ Man in 'Gladiator II' ... Producers Cut the Scene!!!

Denzel Washington brought some authenticity to his "Gladiator II" character's sexuality ... 'cause he says he straight-up kissed a dude in a scene -- but, fans won't get to see it.

The actor sat down for an interview with Gayety -- an LGBTQ+-focused media company -- and, they asked him about his character's revelation that he'd been in same-sex couplings before ... leaving them to wonder how gay the Roman Empire truly was.

DW says they didn't just reference his character's past in the flick ... they actually showed him lip-to-lip with another man in a scene -- a full-on smooch in the Ancient Rome film.

Denzel Washington Nervous Meet And Greet ... With King Charles At "Gladiator II" Premiere

Denzel Washington typically portrays a cool and confident character in his films ... yet he was anything but that when he met King Charles at the London premiere of "Gladiator II."

The Oscar-winning actor stepped onto the red carpet at the Wednesday night opening of the action-adventure movie with his costars, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen and director Sir Ridley Scott.

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ROYALTY MEETS ROYALTY
AP

Denzel and the others formed a line so Charles could greet them one by one at Leicester Square Odeon -- but when British royalty approached Hollywood royalty things got a little awkward.

Toy Scout Joel Magee Make 'Wicked' $$$ on X-Rated Doll Error

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GET 'EM WHILE YOU CAN!
TMZ.com

The Toy Scout, Joel Magee, is advising people against tossing out the "Wicked" toys incorrectly labeled with a porn link ... explaining owners could majorly cash in on the X-rated error.

The toy expert tells TMZ ... he's never seen a mistake like this on a toy before, especially involving a company as famous and as big as Mattel. In fact, he's baffled the proof team didn't catch such a glaring error, calling it a "heavy" misstep.

However, the mistake actually makes the toy even more valuable now ... with Joel encouraging owners to ignore Mattel's instructions on how to dispose of the NSFW packaging.

Ariana Grande Fan-Girled Over 'Wicked' Munchkins

Ariana Grande was in awe the first time she saw the Munchkins in the upcoming "Wicked" movie ... so much so that she stopped to take photos of them in costume.

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munchkin mania
TMZ.com

Ricardo Ludgero Souza, who plays a Munchkin in "Wicked," tells TMZ ... Ariana went complete fan-girl before her first scene with the Munchkins, asking the actors for pics and chatting with them on set before cameras started rolling.

Ariana's reaction came as a complete surprise to the actors playing the Munchkins, Ricardo says ... she's by far the biggest celebrity on set, but geeked out over the littlest people in Oz.

George Lemore Tony Todd Is the Only 'Candyman' ... 'Leave It Alone'!!!

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CANDYMAN LIVES ON!!!
TMZ.com

George Lemore, who starred in the 1995 film "Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh," doesn't think anyone should pick up the villain's famous hook in the aftermath of Tony Todd's death.

We caught up with the actor a week after his former costar died of natural causes at the age of 69, prompting George to advocate to the powers that be to leave the 'Candyman' franchise alone.

As George put it ... the horror series, which dropped its first film back in 1992, should be left as a classic and shouldn't be rebooted again ... declaring it's comparable to other greats in the popular genre.

'Gladiator II' This Movie Keeps Us All Entertained ... Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal & More at Premiere

The "Gladiator II" cast will soon enter the Box Office Colosseum ... but, for now, they're simply enjoying the run-up to the wide release of the film -- attending the premiere in London.

Denzel Washington led the way for the 'G2' stars ... King Kong ain't got a thing on his outfit -- looking handsome in a plain black suit.

Pedro Pascal showed off a little more skin ... wearing his black shirt open to the middle of his chest, his sister Lux standing alongside him.