Movies

Ben Affleck is gonna be the best Batman ever -- is what almost no one is saying, but before fanboys start committing hari kari ... we present a few reasons Ben could actually be a wicked pissah supah-hero!

Just try to forget 'Daredevil' ever happened. Ben does.

It's a battle of the most-hated Batmans!

Here's the newly-named caped crusader Ben Affleck (41) with his best Bruce Wayne inspired tuxedo (left) -- and the previously titled worst-winged avenger George Clooney (52) in the same penguin suit (right).

Lee Thompson Young will be laid to rest this week ... and TMZ has learned the actor's funeral service will take place at the legendary Paramount Pictures lot in Hollywood.

We've learned ... the service has been set for Friday afternoon ... on the lot where his show "Rizzoli & Isles" is filmed. We're told hundreds of people are expected to attend.

In lieu of flowers, Young's family is asking friends and fans to make a donation to the Young Storytellers Foundation, an organization which helps expose underprivileged kids to the arts.

As we previously reported, Young was found dead this week inside his LA home with a self inflicted gun shot wound. Police still have no clue why he took his own life.

Young was 29.

"Prison Break" star Wentworth Miller has just revealed he's a gay man ... in a statement that reads as a giant "F YOU" to Russia.

The 41-year-old actor fired off a letter to the director of the St. Petersburg International Film Festival -- rejecting its invitation for him to travel to the Motherland for the event ... and in the letter, WM went public about his sexuality for the first time.

"Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes. However, as a gay man, I must decline."

Miller continues ... "I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government."

"The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly."

He added, "If circumstances improve, I'll be free to make a different choice."

Just one day after learning of his death, Lee Thompson Young's co-stars on the TNT show "Rizzoli & Isles" paid homage to the fallen actor with an on-air tribute.

At the end of the show Tuesday night, a title screen appeared with the words, "In Loving Memory of Lee Thompson Young 1984-2013" ... followed by two silent clips of the 29-year-old actor.

We broke the story ... Young's body was discovered inside his North Hollywood apartment Monday morning ... after producers called the actor's landlord to check up on him when he failed to show up on set for work.

Officials say Young took his own life ... but it's still unclear why.

Elmore Leonard -- the legendary writer behind "Get Shorty," "3:10 to Yuma" and "Justified" -- has died, three weeks after suffering a stroke ... TMZ has learned.

We're told Leonard passed away at his home in Detroit ... the city where he lived since 1934.

E.L. is a legend -- dozens of his novels and short stories have been transformed into movies or TV shows ... including "Out of Sight," "Be Cool," "Hombre," "Mr. Majestyk" and "3:10 to Yuma."

Elmore's researcher broke the news on the author's Facebook page ... writing, "The post I dreaded to write, and you dreaded to read. Elmore passed away at 7:15 this morning from complications from his stroke. He was at home surrounded by his loving family."

Story developing ...

Lee Thompson Young's suicide is a dark mystery ... because law enforcement sources tell TMZ he did NOT leave a suicide note.

TMZ broke the story ... Young was found dead in his North Hollywood apartment Monday. We're told he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Our sources say Young did have a diary ... but we're told none of the entries reveal why he would have taken his life ... at least at first glance.

Law enforcement sources also tell TMZ ... Young was last seen on Saturday and they believe he may have taken his life sometime that day.

The case is a real mystery because everyone we've spoken with in Young's life tells us he had no apparent serious life issues.

Lee Thompson Young -- who played the main character on Disney's "The Famous Jett Jackson" -- has committed suicide, TMZ has learned. He was 29.

Young's body was discovered inside his North Hollywood home Monday with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to sources. It's unclear why Young took his own life.

Lee's publicist said, "It is with great sadness that I announce that Lee Thompson Young tragically took his own life this morning ... Lee was more than just a brilliant young actor, he was a wonderful and gentle soul who will be truly missed."

Young currently appears in the TNT show "Rizzoli & Isles" -- and we're told when he didn't show up to work Monday morning, staffers called Young's landlord to check up on the actor. That's when the landlord found him.

The executive producer of "Rizzoli & Isles" tells us, "Everyone at [the show] is devastated by the news of the passing of Lee Thompson Young."

She adds, "We are beyond heartbroken at the loss of this sweet, gentle, good-hearted, intelligent man. He was truly a member of our family. Lee will be cherished and remembered by all who knew and loved him, both on- and offscreen, for his positive energy, infectious smile and soulful grace. We send our deepest condolences and thoughts to his family, to his friends and, most especially, to his beloved mother."

Young was a rising star in Hollywood. After he made it big as a Disney star, he went on to play running back Chris Comer in the 2004 movie "Friday Night Lights."

Dear celebs, take a lesson from your God Al Pacino ... the legendary actor was slapped with a tax lien and then immediately PAID IT OFF ... like you're supposed to do.

The State of CA hit Pacino with the lien in May, claiming he still owed $31,706.04 in back taxes for the years 2009 and 2011. Rather than sit on the debt like some celebs, Pacino took action and cut a check ... like a champ.

The lien was officially released on July 31. And that's how it's done.

Now, let's all pay tribute to his greatness ...

Melanie Griffith brought a very interesting date to the premiere of her movie "Dark Tourist" this week -- her ex-husband Steven Bauer ... a guy she's BARELY been seen in public with since they divorced more than 20 years ago, TMZ has learned.

Griffith and Bauer (who famously starred in "Scarface" back in 1983) were all over each other on the red carpet ... which raised eyebrows considering Melanie's current husband, Antonio Banderas, was no where to be found.

According to our crack research team, the last time M & S were photographed on a red carpet together was back 1985 ... back when Ronald Reagan was President.

There have been rumors that Melanie and Antonio have been going through a rough patch ... which makes her decision to walk her ex down the red carpet even more curious.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ ... despite divorcing in 1987, Melanie and Steven have remained close over the years and have worked together to co-parent their son Alexander Bauer, who also attended the premiere.

We reached out to Melanie's people -- but didn't hear anything back.

August Schellenberg -- who played Jesse's Native American mentor in "Free Willy" -- has died Thursday in Texas after a long battle with cancer ... TMZ has learned.

Schellenberg's family tells TMZ ... August died peacefully surrounded by loved ones.

77-year-old Schellenberg had a long and storied career in Hollywood -- often playing Native American characters.

In fact, he was nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his role as Chief Sitting Bull in "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee."

August appeared in all 3 "Free Willy" movies. He also appeared alongside Christian Bale and Colin Farrell in the 2005 flick, "The New World."

Story developing ...

O.M.G. ... It's J.T.T. in L.A. ... AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

14 years after "Home Improvement" went off the air, TMZ spotted the elusive Jonathan Taylor Thomas at the Arclight movie theater in Hollywood ... as dreamboaty as ever.

Despite being mesmerized by his sparkling blue eyes ... we managed to compose ourselves for just enough time to fire off some questions about the "Lion King." Ugh, we're soooo stupid.

Of course, the hunky 31-year-old ... who once graced every single teen magazine from "Tiger Beat" to "16" to "J-14" to "Bop" ... answered our dumb questions and even cracked that adorbs smile.

He's so much hotter than Devon Sawa!!

Don't hold your breath for a "Breaking Bad" movie after the season ends ... 'cause EVERYONE IS GONNA DIE!!!!!!!

At least that's what Aaron Paul told us last night (please, please, please be joking).

Paul -- who plays Jesse Pinkman on the AMC series -- was leaving The Sayers Club with some friends last night when we asked if there was a chance the upcoming finale was just a teaser into a REAL finale on the big screen.

But Paul didn't just shoot down that idea ... he also may have spoiled the ending of the TV series.

Here comes the bride ... to-be ... at least, that's the way it seemed when Hayden Panettiere arrived to LAX yesterday with a HUGE DIAMOND on her finger.

Rumors have been swirling that the "Nashville" star finally said "Yes" to her massive heavyweight boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko ... but that bling on her hand pretty much put the rumors to bed.

So ... CONGRATS!!!!

Hayden was in a great mood on her way out of the airport yesterday (as usual) -- and there was only one topic to discuss ... weddings! Though it's unclear if she was referencing her own.

Check out the clip.

Oprah Winfrey says she's kinda sorta "sorry" for the fallout that ensued after she told the media about a "racist" encounter at a purse store in Switzerland ... saying, "I'm really sorry that it got blown up."

Yeah, right.

Oprah addressed the media at the premiere of "The Butler" in L.A. last night -- backpedaling after the shop in question started to refute O's allegations of racism during an incident last month.

The shop owner says the whole thing was a "misunderstanding" and had "nothing to do with racism."

Last night, Oprah said ... "I think that incident in Switzerland was just an incident in Switzerland. I'm really sorry that it got blown up. I purposefully did not mention the name of the store. I'm sorry that I said it was Switzerland."

Problem is ... O's full of it. What did she think was going to happen when she went on national TV and cried racism? The media was just going to ignore that??

Oprah once ragged on hamburgers and single-handedly CRIPPLED the beef industry. She knew damn well how the media was going to handle the Switzerland situation ... which is why she went to the media in the first place. Her mission was to destroy the shop.

There are some people who are saying Oprah's Swiss encounter wasn't really about race -- Oprah was just mad she wasn't treated like Her Royal O-ness because the shop employee didn't recognize her ... but now, after the employee told the media she's being unfairly attacked, O's feeling a little guilty.

But pretending not to know about the impact of her race allegations?? That's like Obama pretending not to know what's gonna happen if he pushes that big red button in the White House.

C'mon O ... you're smarter than that. And so are we.

Spike from "Little Giants" is no longer a tackling machine ... he's a DANCING MACHINE ... and TMZ has footage showing the guy poppin' and lockin' like a friggin' CHAMP!!

19 years after he tried (and failed) to obliterate Becky "The Icebox" O'Shea ... Sam Horrigan took over the dance floor at La Maison lounge in Studio City, CA ... and totally stole the show.

We're told it all went down at an event for Ken Due clothing -- when Sam, who's a manager at the lounge, started feeling the music and decided to bust out a few moves.

The leg strength is particularly impressive ... must've been the nightly "evaporated milk" massages.