Movie Business

'Scary Movie' star Anna Faris says a joke she liked about Melania Trump was cut from the film ... which had some folks wondering if politics were in play amid a major Hollywood merger ... but TMZ is told that's NOT the case.

Here's the deal ... Anna said in a recent interview there was a moment in the new 'Scary Movie' where her character mocked Melania's “Be Best” initiative to combat cyberbullying.

Production sources tell TMZ ... the Melania joke was among several filmmakers cut in post-production for pacing ... and it's as simple and routine as that.

The family of Celeste Rivas is being approached by multiple production companies seeking insight on her alleged relationship with singer D4vd ... but they’re shutting the door on the idea for now, TMZ has learned.

According to the Rivas' family attorney Patrick Steinfeld, several production companies have reached out regarding potential participation in documentary projects, with some even making direct solicitations at the family’s home.

Steinfeld tells us the interest has been widespread, noting the family has been contacted by "many production companies" in connection with possible documentaries exploring the alleged relationship between their daughter and the singer, whose real name is David Anthony Burke.

The young director behind the surprise hit "Backrooms" has a lot to say about artificial intelligence in Hollywood ... and none of it's positive.

Kane Parsons -- who isn't even old enough to legally drink in America -- told The Australian he doesn't want to see A.I. take over the industry ... a stance he said "most well-adjusted people" share.

KP didn't stop there ... saying if it was within his power to make generative A.I. disappear, you better believe he would freaking do it in a snap ... adding, "Creatively, I get no enjoyment from using those tools. It defeats the purpose entirely for me."

Billy Joel's ex-manager says he tried early on to get the music legend to read the biopic script ... insisting he never tried to sneak the project past Billy.

Irwin Mazur -- the central figure behind the "Billy and Me" project -- tells TMZ he spent the last year trying to arrange a meeting with the "Piano Man" before the backlash surrounding the film reached a fever pitch.

Mazur insists there's "nothing defamatory" in the script and nothing he wouldn’t stand behind ... arguing it simply tells the story of their early days together, which he is very proud of.

The director of the upcoming Billy Joel biopic is pushing back on the "Piano Man's" camp after a rep blasted the movie ... John Ottman says the only thing that's misguided here is Billy's outlook on what the flick is all about.

John, who won an Oscar for his work on the Queen biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody," tells TMZ ... "Billy and Me" does not need to use any of Billy's original music because it takes place during his formative years when he was performing cover songs with his band, The Hassles, and "struggling to find his artistic identity."

A rep for Billy blasted the unauthorized biopic in the media, telling Variety ... "Since 2021, the parties involved have been officially notified that they do not possess Billy Joel’s life rights and will not be able to secure the music rights required for this project. Billy Joel has not authorized or supported this project in any capacity, and any attempt to move forward without it would be both legally and professionally misguided."

Looks like Billy Joel's upcoming biopic is headed for "The Longest Time" in development hell -- 'cause the icon himself is coming out swinging against it!

A rep for the "Piano Man" says the filmmakers behind "Billy and Me" have known since 2021 they were never getting the green light, and still don't have the rights to his music or his story to make the movie fly.

Billy ain't exactly keeping the "Pressure" low over the John Ottman-directed flick ... the statement to Variety says he "has not authorized or supported this project in any capacity" ... warning any attempt to move forward would be "legally and professionally misguided."

Seth Rogen's not letting ChatGPT pen his next hit ... and he says anyone willing to do so isn't cut out to be a writer.

The actor-writer went off on scribes looking for a technological boost during an interview with the outlet Brut. ... saying he truly doesn't understand when people share A.I. content like it's as good as what a human being can make.

Rogen says most of the A.I. slop he's seen online is "stupid dog s***" ... and, if a person’s instinct is to use A.I. to write anything, then they shouldn't be a writer. 

Bella Hadid's ushering in swimsuit season ... showing off her slender bod in a tiny pink bikini while floating on a boat near Cannes, France.

The sexy supermodel was spotted hanging out on a yacht near Cannes Saturday ... wearing a smile, sunglasses -- and not a whole lot else.

Check out the pics ... Hadid strips off her flannel and dives from the boat, while her friends look on, before rising out of the water -- unintentionally flaunting her long, supermodel legs.

Mark Ruffalo doesn't think he'll be pulled in for many auditions if Paramount and Warner Bros. merge ... because, according to him, David and Larry Ellison aren't the "forgive and forget" types.

The actor talked about Paramount Skydance's controversial acquisition on a new episode of the "I've Had It" podcast ... joking that he's "already on a list" after his open letter opposing the merger gained thousands of signatures.

Ruffalo says the Ellisons spark a lot of fear in people ... quoting one person who told him "these are some vindictive motherf***ers, the Ellisons."

Jed Wallace is trying to breathe new life into his dismissed defamation case against Blake Lively -- because now he's appealing ... TMZ has learned.

ICYMI ... Jed and his company Street Relations Inc. were named in Blake's 2024 civil rights complaint for allegedly smearing Blake after the "It Ends With Us" drama.

Wallace filed a defamation suit in Texas in response … but a judge tossed it last year for lack of jurisdiction.

The search for the next James Bond has officially begun ... and a big industry name is attached to help on the hunt.

TMZ has confirmed the 007 casting process started -- an Amazon MGM Studios spokesperson saying ... "While we don't plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we're excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right."

A source with knowledge confirmed to TMZ ... renowned "Game of Thrones" casting director Nina Gold has been enlisted to help find the next British secret agent.

Vin Diesel got emotional in Cannes ... choking back tears while honoring his late 'Fast & Furious' brother Paul Walker during a special midnight screening of "The Fast and the Furious."

The longtime face of the franchise took the stage Wednesday night after the movie received a hero's welcome at the festival ... with the crowd inside giving the cast a 4-minute standing ovation as the credits rolled.

Diesel struggled to hold it together while reflecting on his bond with Walker ... telling the audience, "I tried to save my brother. It was all in the script at first ... this blonde haired, blue-eyed guy would be a brother to me. As the years went by, he wanted us to continue the story.”

Elon Musk is firing shots at director Christopher Nolan over his upcoming movie "The Odyssey" ... joining in with the chorus of trolls on X who are bitching it's an insult that Lupita Nyong'o was cast as Helen of Troy -- AKA the legendary beauty of Greek mythology.

The Tesla billionaire and owner of X went on a spree retweeting -- to his 240 million followers -- posts accusing Nolan of being a "coward" for casting Lupita in a supposed attempt to boost chances to win awards ... including one post by conservative commentator Matt Walsh, claiming "not one person on the planet" sees Lupita as "the most beautiful woman in the world." Sure, Jan.

Elon also endorsed Walsh's other dopey X post ... which argued Nolan knew he would've been slammed as racist if he'd cast a white actress instead -- even comparing the outrage to casting Sydney Sweeney as "the most beautiful woman in Africa."

Renowned film critic Rex Reed has died at the age of 87, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Reed died at home in New York City, a friend told the outlet Tuesday morning.

His final review was published in the New York Observer in November, for the film "Truth & Treason."

Reed was 87.

The federal judge presiding over Blake Lively's battle with Justin Baldoni seems to be on the same page as the public ... tired of the back and forth -- and told the actress that, for now, he didn't need to read any additional briefs from the parties before making a final decision on any fees or damages she may be entitled to in her final legal battle with Justin ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, the judge denied Blake's request to file additional briefs and offer additional information as she argues she's entitled to recovery of her legal fees and damages based on Justin filing his defamation countersuit against her.

As we previously reported, Blake and Justin hashed out a deal that ended the legal battle in which she claimed to have experienced sexual harassment on the set of "It Ends With Us" ... except with respect to one final issue.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni settle their legal war, mostly ... plus, Jeffrey Epstein's suicide note raises more questions than answers and Timothée Chalamet makes Kylie Jenner fly solo to the Met Gala. So, we gotta ask ...