Movie Business

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson gave fans a history lesson worth the price of admission at Universal Studios Hollywood, derailing a backlot tour to greet everyone on the tram.

The 53-year-old actor announced he was there shooting "Jumanji 3" -- his first time shooting a movie in Los Angeles in a long time -- and addressed them in full wardrobe.

While his appearance was special for the crowd, it may have been more meaningful for Rock. He revealed to the screaming fans, "Life comes full circle, because I started my career here on this lot filming a little movie you guys might have seen called 'The Scorpion King,' so it's really cool to come back."

The exciting second act of "Wicked" is out now ... and we've put together behind-the-scenes pics from filming for you to scroll through all the movie magic before jumping back into Oz.

Filming kicked off back in late 2022 ... and it made fast friends out of Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater, and the rest of the film's cast as they shot both films at the same time -- a massive undertaking led by director Jon M. Chu.

The cast couldn't help but strike a few silly poses in between scenes ... with Cynthia making a face we just can't imagine the uptight Elphaba emulating.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have been around the world promoting their new movie ... and now they're back stateside for one last rodeo.

Ariana and Cynthia were in lockstep Monday at the premiere of "Wicked: For Good" at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

The cast previously hit premieres in Brazil and Singapore, where things got dramatic when an unruly fan jumped a barricade and attacked Ariana.

Tom Cruise may risk life and limb for his own stunts, but writing his own speeches? Maybe not his most authentic flex -- 'cause his Honorary Oscar remarks sounded suspiciously like Nicole Kidman’s AMC ad playbook!

It was a huge night for Tom at the 2025 Governors Awards on Sunday … where he launched into a whole ode about the magic of the moviegoing experience -- and if you close your eyes, it almost sounds like he’s tag-teaming the same monologue with his ex-wife.

Check out our video mash-up -- because okay sure, it’s not an exact copy-paste job, but Tom goes on about how we come to the movies to laugh and cry together ... which, funny enough, is exactly Nicole’s whole spiel in her iconic preview ad for AMC Theatres.

4:16 PM PST -- Jeremy Renner's lawyer, Marty Singer, tells TMZ ... "There was no deal reached with Yi Zhou to resolve my client Jeremy Renner’s substantial multi million dollar claims against her."

He adds ... "I have no knowledge why Yi Zhou would fabricate a story that a deal has been made with her since she was notified that there was no deal with her, including her use of Jeremy Renner in an animated movie when he only agreed to be in a documentary."

It looks like director Yi Zhou and actor Jeremy Renner are putting their differences aside after a contentious battle over their recent relationship and professional collaborations.

We told you all about it -- the pair shot cease and desist letters at each other after their professional relationship soured ... with Zhou accusing the Marvel star of coming onto her and then refusing to cooperate professionally, and Renner saying quite the opposite -- that the filmmaker threw herself at him repeatedly.

But, that's all in the past ... 'cause Zhou tells TMZ they have "reached a peaceful and mutually respectful resolution" and will be moving forward with their joint projects, "Chronicles of Disney" and the AI-animated "Stardust Future."

2:25 PM PT -- A source with direct knowledge of the production tells TMZ … the film is based on a book, which Sony owns the rights to.

Tom Holland's set to star in an upcoming biopic about Fred Astaire ... but the late Hollywood legend's widow says the movie never got the green light from Fred's estate.

TMZ obtained a legal letter Fred's widow, Robyn Astaire, fired off to Amy Pascal -- one of the biopic's producers -- and Robyn makes it clear she hasn't authorized or granted permission for any portrayal of Fred in this biopic ... or any other film.

In the letter, Robyn says Fred "was explicit in his Will that he did not want his life story to be depicted on screen" ... and he says she "fully respects and upholds those wishes."

Justin Baldoni says Blake Lively improvised kissing him in a scene that was eventually deleted from the final cut of their film, "It Ends With Us," and that's one of the reasons he wants her lawsuit against him dismissed before the trial begins.

Part of Lively's lawsuit accuses Baldoni of kissing her during scenes where the script did not call for it ... but in new docs, he fires back that Blake herself did that to him during a hospital scene.

Justin actually included the scene in an exhibit attached to the suit ... and he claims the video proves she improvised the brief kiss. According to the docs, Justin says what's most appalling is, although he was directing, he claims Blake had rewritten this part of the script, and it didn't include any lip lock.

California State Senator Ben Allen says Hollywood is showing signs of life again ... and he thinks Governor Gavin Newsom has a delicate act to balance.

Ben joined us on "TMZ Live" Monday, and we asked him about what a lot of folks in the film and TV industry in Los Angeles are feeling ... that Hollywood is dead because of overregulation, and other places are luring productions away from California with tax credits and incentives.

The Democrat -- who represents Santa Monica, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Torrance and other cities in L.A. County -- says the concerns are valid ... but he says a new bill he passed to increase the state's film and TV tax credit program from $350 million to $750 million is already paying off.

Johnny Depp is making his big Hollywood return ... booking the starring role in the latest re-imagining of a Charles Dickens holiday classic, TMZ has confirmed.

Source tells us ... Depp is in final negotiations to play the namesake in "Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol" ... which is in the works at Paramount Pictures, and will also star Andrea Riseborough.

This 'Carol' iteration is described as ... "A thrilling ghost story set in Dickens’ London, follows one man’s supernatural journey to face his past, present and future and fight for a second chance."

Eli Roth is on cloud nine with his new horror flick "Dream Eater" ... calling it a dream come true as his twisted sleepwalking nightmare finally stalks its way into theaters this week.

The horror king himself hit up "TMZ Live" Monday ... telling us the movie's plot was so nightmarish, actors flat-out admitted the script was too intense, forcing the directors to roll up their sleeves and play the parts themselves!

Eli went all in on just how groundbreaking "Dream Eater" really is … bragging the whole thing only cost $40k to make -- and saying it’s proof a low-budget, must-see mashup like this could flip Hollywood on its head.

Drew Struzan -- the legendary artist who created hand-illustrated posters for blockbuster film classics like "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter" -- has died at 78.

Moderators of Struzan’s official Instagram posted that he died Monday, adding ... "I feel it is important that you all know how many times he expressed to me the joy he felt knowing how much you appreciated his art."

No official cause of death has been announced, though it was confirmed back in April that Struzan had been battling Alzheimer’s for some time.

Even though Dwayne Johnson starred in "The Smashing Machine" ... the flick's definitely not smashing anything at the box office.

The sports biopic -- centered around the life of former MMA fighter Mark Kerr -- turned out to have The Rock's lowest-ever film opening, raking in an unremarkable $5.9 million over its opening weekend, according to Deadline.

What's interesting is the movie was actually forecast to bring in a pretty penny with its release, and it was supposed to be one of A24's biggest openings yet.

Marlon Wayans is currently going to war with critics for his new Jordan Peele-produced film, "Him" ... and his costar Don Benjamin is chiming in, proclaiming it to be JP's magnum opus!!!

TMZ caught up with Don and his wife, Liane V, in L.A. with their fam on their way to soak in the gory sports thriller for themselves -- which has been a wacky bag for the review writers nationwide.

Don certifies Peele a genius and even ranks "Him" as better than the filmmaker's debut, 2017's "Get Out," which has been a crown jewel on Rotten Tomatoes since it premiered.

Tom Holland got shaken up while on set filming "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" ... and was taken to the hospital after suffering a concussion.

Filming for the flick came to a halt Friday after Tom was treated for a mild concussion, per Deadline. Fortunately, he's expected to be back filming in a few days -- but for now is taking a break out of precaution.

No one else on set was injured ... and there's reportedly a meeting today to adjust the filming schedule.

Jennifer Lopez proved she's the ultimate Hollywood power player as she turned heads strutting into the same Los Angeles office building that houses ex-husband Ben Affleck's production digs.

The superstar was decked out in full glam and looked amazing as she headed in for a round of meetings Monday. In true L.A. fashion, J Lo's morning grind came with star-studded serendipity ... we're told before J Lo stepped onto the elevator, she crossed paths with none other than legendary director Ridley Scott and his wife, producer Giannina Facio.

The two Hollywood titans exchanged hellos before each continued on to their separate offices ... Lopez to her own business dealings, and Scott and Facio to their production hub.

Marlon Wayans has a very personal reason why his and brother Shawn's box office blockbuster "White Chicks" will NEVER get a follow-up ... and that's because getting a full face-beat takes too freakin' long!!!

Kai Cenat had Marlon on his Mafiathon 3 stream and brought up "White Chicks 2," taking Marlon down horror memory lane, spending 7 hours in the make-up chair all to turn into a bad bish.

Marlon explained that the 7-hour makeup job was in addition to the 14 hours of the daily production and the 1 hour it took to remove the costumes.