Movie Business

Jermaine Jackson feared claims that he raped a woman would tarnish not only his reputation, but also his son Jaafar Jackson's big break in the "Michael" biopic ... TMZ has learned.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Jermaine said he was unaware of Rita Butler Barrett’s lawsuit against him ... or the $6.5 million default judgment she was awarded in May ... until he got blindsided during the press tour for the biopic.

He says the coverage of the default judgment ruined "what should have been a proud and important professional moment for my son and our family." He says he was "shocked and deeply concerned about the effect of those reports on my reputation and on the promotion of my son's motion picture.”

CAA co-founder Michael Ovitz ran for the hills when asked about Jeffrey Epstein during his recent deposition ... after his talent and sports agency was sued for allegedly playing a key role in an alleged Harvey Weinstein assault.

Here's the deal ... actress Julia Ormond sued CAA, Weinstein, Miramax and Disney under the Adult Survivors Act in New York in 2023 ... claiming CAA knew of Weinstein’s repeated sexual misconduct and sent her on a dinner meeting with him anyway. She said this led to him sexually assaulting her in December 1995.

Ormond's legal team finally scored a court order requiring Ovitz to show face for a deposition, but he flat-out declined to comply once the questions moved from Weinstein to his association with Epstein.

Madonna is finally pulling back the curtain on her long-scrapped biopic ... and according to her, money was the biggest reason it never made it to the big screen.

The pop icon reveals she spent two years developing the film and even cast Julia Garner as the lead after an intense boot camp in 2022, but despite all that work, the studio just couldn't get on board with the scale -- and price tag -- she felt her life story deserved.

Madonna told Interview mag she even pitched a cheaper version filmed in Serbia ... but that didn't win executives over either, explaining ... "Their first reaction was, 'We don't believe you'd stay in Serbia more than four days.'"

Amazon just sold out Luca Guadagnino in a major way ... scrapping his nearly-finished Sam Altman film after partnering with Altman's OpenAI in a $50 billion deal ... TMZ has confirmed.

The movie, "Artificial," stars Andrew Garfield as Altman -- the OpenA.I. CEO -- and it reportedly tells the story of his short-lived firing from the company.

An Amazon spokesperson tells TMZ in a statement ... "We have the utmost respect and admiration for Luca Guadagnino as an award-winning filmmaker — not to mention a longstanding relationship that we hope to continue."

Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino were seen for the first time shooting the upcoming "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion" sequel!!! 

Photos show Lisa and Mira on set wearing the iconic pastel business suits they made famous in the 1997 flick ... along with Alan Cumming, who had a major role in the first film, and Keegan-Michael Key. 

The actresses were seen shooting with a classic Jaguar .. which is the car Romy and Michele drove to get to the 10th high school reunion in the OG film. 

Robert De Niro's 14-year-old daughter, Helen Hightower DeNiro, scored a role in a major film made by the director of the upcoming fourth film in the 'Meet the Parents' franchise, TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained the contract Helen's parents, Robert and his ex-wife Grace Hightower, executed on her behalf on August 14, 2025.

The paperwork listed the film as being tentatively titled "Lazarus," which may be a code name during production.

Blake Lively asked the judge in her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni for a little extra time to explain how much she will be seeking in attorneys’ fees in the case ... in part due to her busy schedule ... TMZ has learned.

The "Gossip Girl" alum’s legal team wrote a letter to the federal judge in the since-settled legal battle. Blake recently lost her attempt to get punitive damages but was awarded legal fees.

A deadline was set for June 22 to submit her papers, but Blake said she would like some extra time ... at least 7 days but up to another 30 days, which would push things out to mid-July.

Hollywood is entering a whole new era ... because the U.S. Justice Department has officially approved Paramount Skydance's massive $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

The decision, announced Friday, clears the way for Paramount Skydance to combine forces with the media giant behind CNN, Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max ... creating one of the most powerful entertainment companies on the planet.

According to Politico, Justice Department officials concluded the deal didn't pose a threat to competition and opted not to challenge the blockbuster merger.

'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.