Entourage

"Entourage" director Doug Ellin had a brush with disaster on a yacht this weekend in Miami -- accidentally dropping his expensive camera into the ocean ... after shooting a wild bikini scene for the movie ... but thankfully, the damage was minimal.

Sources on the set tell TMZ, Ellin was stepping off the yacht onto a smaller boat when he accidentally dropped his personal camera into the water. He offered to pay divers $1,000 to find it, but it was impossible.

Luckily, the camera didn't contain any official film footage ... but it did have more than 500 behind-the-scene photos of all the girls in bikinis. Arguably a bigger loss.

Kevin Dillon tells TMZ ... the "Entourage" movie will finally begin shooting in January -- and he won't let a little thing like a BROKEN WRIST keep him from doing his job

Dillon -- who was doing some shopping in Malibu last week -- wouldn't say HOW he jacked up his wrist, but explained that it's not the first time he's suffered the injury.

There was one more thing ... we asked Kev about his truck, the one that embarrassingly broke down on him (in front of our camera) the last time we shot him out ... and he dropped an interesting fact about an unlikely HERO who saved the day. Check out the clip.

The "Entourage" movie could be derailed ... because of IDENTITY THEFT!

TMZ has obtained a cease and desist letter -- sent to Warner Bros. -- demanding that the studio make NO reference to Vinnie Chase, the main character played by Adrian Grenier. The man making the demand -- one Vincent Chase.

Who knew ... VC is a real guy -- a longtime Hollywood acting coach who's been teaching actors for more than 50 years. He reportedly met "Entourage" Exec. Prod. Mark Wahlberg in the late '90s.

In the cease and desist letter Chase says he believes the fictional character was named after him ... and says "Entourage" cannot use his name without his "express permission."

Chase claims he griped to producers when the TV show was on ... lots of letters but no lawsuit.

You can hug it out now, bitch ... 'cuz the movie version of "Entourage" just got green lit.

"Entourage" creator and head writer, Doug Ellin sent a simple message: "It's a go. Love you all."

Ellin posted a black and white photo of the cast, showing that they're all Kumbaya.

As we reported ... the announcement of an "Entourage" movie was delayed because actors Adrian Grenier and Jerry Ferrara were holding out for a bigger piece of the action.

"Entourage" WILL hit the big screen, because the cast and the producers will all sign on with Warner Bros. as early as today ... TMZ has learned.

As we have previously reported, several people on the show have been holding out for a bigger piece of the action, but everyone has been pointing fingers at each other. Now we know ... the holdouts have been Adrian Grenier and Jerry Ferrara ... this according to sources connected to the production.

Production sources tell us ... Grenier, Ferrara and some other cast members are resentful that Jeremy Piven will be getting a bigger salary and bigger piece of the back end than them, and they've been haggling.

Our sources say Warner Bros. told the cast and producers that it would give a certain amount of back end, and it was up to them to figure out who gets what. Our sources say the wheeling and dealing is just about over and lawyers from all sides are trying to ink the deal today.

We're told if it doesn't happen today, it will happen in the next few days by necessity ... there are certain tax issues that create a make-or-break situation for the movie, and that deadline is days away.

Bottom line -- Kevin Connolly wasn't lying ... we're told IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

It's not official yet, but the "Entourage" movie is 100% happening -- in fact, production is expected to kick off as soon as January -- so says "Entourage" star Kevin Connolly.

Connolly -- who played E on the show -- was out in NYC this morning when we asked about the status of the film.

As we reported, executive producer Mark Wahlberg previously said the project was on hold due to certain "greedy" actors demanding unreasonable sums of money (he didn't specify who) -- but it sounds like they've since solved their money issues.

1:00 PM PT -- Adrian Grenier shed some light on the "Entourage" feud ... saying, "It has, & never will be about the money for me. I promise."

However on his Instagram, AG added ... the issue really is about money ... but for the entire cast -- "I will sign any deal that gives ALL the boys an opportunity to share in the upside of success EQUALLY." Translation: Someone on the cast is getting paid way more than everyone else, and Adrian's pissed.

The mystery of the "Entourage" movie just got a little deeper -- Turtle, aka Jerry Ferrara tells us he doesn't care how much he gets paid ... and it's not his fault the project's on hold.

TMZ broke the story ... "Entourage" executive producer Mark Wahlberg said the long anticipated film version of the HBO show would start shooting when the "guys stop being so greedy."

Today at LAX, Jerry claimed Mark wasn't pointing the finger at him because, "I'd do it for free."

Mark Wahlberg -- who inspired and executive produced "Entourage" -- finally revealed the REAL holdup on the "Entourage" movie ... certain people are being way too greedy.

There's been talk of an "Entourage" flick ever since the HBO series wrapped back in 2011 ... and several actors have expressed serious interest in the project, but it hasn't gotten off the ground.

So,yesterday at LAX, we asked Mark when everyone's favorite Hollywood crew would finally reunite on the big screen -- and the answer we got was very interesting:

"As soon as them guys stop being so greedy."

Jerry Ferrara's like the Kobe Bryant of rec league basketball ... and not in a good way ... 'cause once again, dude left the court with a pretty nasty injury.

The former "Entourage" star was limping out of RivaBella in Hollywood last night ... when he explained how he busted his ankle on the hardwood this week.

Ferrara even posted a pic of his black and blue limb so everyone could share in the disgustingness.

But it ain't the first time Jerry's busted himself up on the court -- just last year his face was gashed open when he caught an elbow to the face.

... nothing a couple of shots of Avion can't help.

Adrian Grenier tells TMZ ... he wishes he NEVER named Justin Bieber as the ideal cameo for his upcoming "Entourage" movie ... but still insists the dude could be a great actor under the right conditions.

Grenier -- sporting a cool new samurai-style hairdo -- was leaving The Sayers Club in L.A. last night when we asked about recent comments he made to HollywoodLife.com about Bieber ... when he said, "I saw [Justin's] documentary and thought he was so cool. I think he would be great!”

But last night, Adrian pulled a 180 ... telling us, "Why did I even say it? I started something I didn't want to finish ... so, I don't want to talk about it."

Still, Adrian says Justin has the potential to be great on screen ... because under the right circumstance ... "Everybody can act."

Adrian says he also feels Justin's pain when it comes to criticism about his personal life ... and can relate to JB's urge to race Ferraris.

"Entourage" star Jerry Ferrara is sporting a pretty gnarly gash and bruise under his left eye this morning ... after taking an elbow to the face during a basketball game yesterday.

Ferrara went to Twitter to explain his injuries ... writing, "Caught a elbow playing bball from a very non athletic dude."

Jerry also asked his followers if they think he needs stitches -- though it's unclear if the actor has actually gone to a doctor to get patched up.

Kevin Connolly thinks the MTV star who's suing "Entourage" is a frickin' moron -- claiming there's no way in hell the show could've ever stolen the name Johnny Bananas from him.

Connolly was leaving Dan Tana's in Hollywood last night ... when he told us, "I think he's crazy ... he's bananas if he thinks he's gonna get the money."

TMZ broke the story ... former "Real World" star Johnny Devenanzio recently filed a lawsuit against the people behind "Entourage" ... claiming he owns the rights to the name Johnny Bananas, because he used the nickname during his stint on MTV.

Devenanzio claims "Entourage" was blatantly attempting to "capitalize on the name recognition" when they ran a storyline in which Johnny Drama voices a cartoon monkey named Johnny Bananas.

Drama.

Johnny Bananas wasn't monkeying around after all ... because the MTV reality star has made good on his threats to sue the people behind "Entourage" for allegedly stealing his nickname to fuel a storyline.

TMZ broke the story ... former "Real World" star Johnny Devenanzio had fired off a cease and desist letter to HBO back in August, claiming producers blatantly tried to "capitalize on the name recognition which I'm solely responsible for creating."

Apparently, HBO neither ceased nor desisted ... because Johnny D. filed a lawsuit in NY against HBO, Time Warner, and "Entourage" creator Doug Ellin.

In case you gave up on "Entourage" ... Johnny Drama agreed to be the voice of an animated TV show called "Johnny's Bananas" ... in which the characters are all apes, gorillas, and other primates ... it was sorta funny.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Johnny claims he "has undergone tremendous emotional distress that has been intentionally inflicted upon plaintiff by defendants' unwarranted, unauthorized, and unjustified use of plaintiff's name and characterization in an offensive and disparaging manner in named 'Entourage'."

"Entourage" star Perrey Reeves looks DAMN good in a bathing suit -- whether she's frolicking on the beach in Hawaii (above) ... or showing off her amazing assets during the show's finale (below).

So, about that finale -- we gotta ask ...

MTV reality star Johnny Devenanzio -- aka Johnny Bananas -- tells TMZ ... he's VERY serious about his beef with "Entourage" claiming, "I'll be damned if some half-ass ape is gonna come and steal my identity."

TMZ broke the story ... the former "Real World" star is threatening to sue HBO over the "Johnny's Bananas" storyline on "Entourage" -- claiming he owns the rights to the name, and never gave permission for the show to use it.

Johnny was out at Beso in L.A. last night ... and told us, "It's not like I spilled hot coffee on my vagina and I'm trying to make a buck off of it ... my identity has been stolen man."

An MTV reality star is threatening to sue the people behind "Entourage" -- claiming the show stole his nickname, "Johnny Bananas" ... and used it to fuel a storyline without his permission.

In case you gave up on "Entourage" ... Johnny Drama recently agreed to be the voice of an animated TV show called "Johnny's Bananas" ... in which the characters are all apes, gorillas, and other primates (above right, below right).

Problem is, former "Real World" star Johnny Devenanzio (pictured above left) says he's been going by the name "Johnny Bananas" on various MTV shows since 2006 ... and claims he owns the rights to the name.

Now, Johnny Bananas -- the human -- got himself a lawyer ... who fired off a cease and desist letter to HBO, the network behind "Entourage."

In the letter, Johnny's attorney Stephanie Ovadia writes, "If you do not cease and desist ... you leave us little option but to seek judicial intervention."

Johnny tells TMZ he believes the name controversy is "in no way coincidental and is instead an attempt to capitalize on the name recognition which I'm solely responsible for creating."

He adds, "I intend to fight vigorously in defense of the years of hard work and dedication I've spent making Johnny Bananas a household name, and the purpose of this lawsuit is aimed at protecting the integrity of my brand."