Movies

You can't legally own the exclusive right to produce a cowboy movie. And you can't legally own the right to produce an alien movie. But a comic book writer claims he does own the combo and that's why he's suing the producers of "Cowboys & Aliens."

Steven Busti claims he created the concept for "Cowboys & Aliens" way back in 1994 -- 17 years before the movie was produced.

Busti wrote a comic called "Cowboys and Aliens" that was published in a comic book called, "Bizarre Fantasy." Busti's story line goes like this ... aliens landed on planet Earth and invaded the Old West. That's pretty much the same concept for the 2011 movie and the graphic novel published by the film's producers 5 years earlier. Busti alleges many other similarities as well.

So the question -- Did the producers know about Busti before they penned the graphic novel and the movie? Well, according to a lawsuit filed today in federal court in Texas, Busti notes back in 1994, his "Cowboys and Aliens" was featured in Comic Shop News on the same page that also featured a story about Scott Mitchell Rosenberg -- who produced the 2011 film. So there!

Busti is suing for copyright infringement and is seeking unspecified damages. Worth noting ... as poorly as it was reviewed, the movie made over $100 million.

There's a damn good reason Sean Penn's 18-year-old son recently stripped down to his skivvies and hung out with a bunch of lingerie-clad models -- HE'S SEAN PENN'S SON!!!

No, the almost-nudity wasn't for an "Eyes Wide Shut" style sex party (unfortunately) ... TMZ has learned Hopper Penn wants to follow his father's footsteps into Hollywood and picked up a lead role in a racy new short film called, "Back in the Game."

TMZ spoke with the producers who tell us the movie is a psychedelic trip about a cowboy ... who meets a bunch of hot babes in the desert... and parties his ass off with 'em at a Bev Hills mansion. It's kinda trippy ...

Abraham Lincoln was spotted in a Virginia restaurant today.

Charlie Sheen is NOT in Colombia to do coke -- he's there scouting locations for a new mystery movie he's developing ... (and possibly to do coke).

As we previously reported, Sheen's currently traveling around the country with a camera crew -- and now, the Warlock tells TMZ it's all part of an effort to remake a classic movie from the 70s, set in South America.

Sheen won't disclose what the movie's about -- but claims he's already reached out to Nicolas Cage about starring in the film.

Sheen tells us the project is still in its early stages .... and right now, he's just trying to get a feel for the terrain.

Arnold Schwarzenegger may be 64 years old, but he's still bad-ass enough to perform his own stunts ... well, except for the one he screwed up and got his head split open.

Arnold has been filming "Last Stand" in New Mexico for nearly two months. Sources on the set tell TMZ ... A.S. has politely declined the producers' offer to put stuntmen in the dangerous scenes, because he thinks it's just more believable for him to do it himself.

As for what Arnold is doing ... among other things, in one scene he's driving a Camaro, dragging a "bad guy behind" -- even though the scene involves crazy driving, it seems the bad guy is the one who needs a double.

Arnold is also doing a scene where he's suspended high above the ground by ropes -- we're told this scene is dangerous.

And side benefit -- we're told the production is so physically challenging, he's yolked again.

Vin Diesel's new "Chronicles of Riddick" movie is back from the dead ... TMZ has learned ... after the production company scrounged up enough cash to pay off some long overdue bills.

We broke the story ... the movie came to a screeching halt last month, when the guy who owns the Montreal studio where the film is being shot LOCKED OUT the cast and crew after complaining that he hadn't gotten paid.

But things have FINALLY changed ... so says studio owner Michel Trudel, who claims the production company recently paid up ... and he's willing to allow the flick to pick up where it left off.

Sources connected with the production tell us ... the studio payment is just ONE step in the right direction -- noting that several members of the crew who had been griping about not receiving paychecks WILL INDEED get their cash in the very near future.

"Godfather" director Francis Ford Coppola says "Part II" -- which many consider the greatest sequel of all time -- was a MISTAKE ... insisting, "There shoulda only been one."

Coppola was leaving Hemingway's Lounge in L.A. last night when we asked if he would ever pick up the Corleone storyline for another GF flick when he dropped the bombshell.

We agree about GF3 -- but TWO? Two was AWESOME -- with Al Pacino, De Niro ... the trip back to Italy -- C'MON!!!!

So, we gotta ask ...

Ice Cube knows ... you can't have a "Friday" movie without John Witherspoon to punish the bathrooms.

TMZ has learned ... Cube has already reached out to the actor to reprise his role as his burrito-eating, dog-catching father, Willie Jones, in the next "Friday" movie.

We spoke to Witherspoon ... who tells us, "I said, 'HELL YEAHHHH! I am ready to do this!"

Witherspoon says nothing is in stone yet ... but he's very confident everything will be worked out.

TMZ broke the story ... Cube has also been in talks with Chris Tucker and Tiny Lister about reprising the roles they made famous in the 1995 hit.

WItherspoon says he's excited to work with all his old pals -- but he's more fired up about the women ... telling us, "One thing for sure that I do look forward to seeing on the set is pretty girls."

Blood was trickling down Arnold Schwarzenegger's forehead yesterday -- after the 64-year-old actor got "banged up" on the set of his new movie ... and of course, he tweeted about it.

Arnold -- who's shooting "The Last Stand" in New Mexico -- explained, "Got a little banged up on set today. Thanks to the medical staff who got me back in action an hour later!"

So far, no word on exactly how Arnold split his melon.

Chris Tucker's money problems could be the best thing to ever happen to his movie career ... because the actor has been in serious talks with Ice Cube about reprising his role as SMOKEYYYYY ... so says the guy who played DeBo in the "Friday" series.

Tiny Lister was chillin' last night outside Pueblo Viejo in Hollywood -- when the scariest man in Hollywood told us ... Tucker flew him out on his private jet recently to discuss the possibility of getting the ORIGINAL "Friday" crew back together.

FYI -- Tucker shot into superstardom playing pot-obsessed Smokey in the original "Friday" back in 1995 ... and then refused to appear in any of the sequels, citing religious reasons.

But now, Lister tells us ... Tucker and Cube have a big pow-wow set for next week to discuss a 4th "Friday" film ... adding, "This is gonna be the big one."

Lister told us he and Tucker also talked about doing a sequel to the 1997 hit, "The Fifth Element."

Mel Gibson's secret dinner date with Azita Ghanizada had everything to do with her good looks -- but not because Mel wants to date her ... he wants to cast her.

According to our sources, Mel met Azita a few weeks ago and he was taken aback by her beauty and unique ethnicity (born in Afghanistan, grew up in Virginia). We're told the two talked for a while that night and Mel asked her out to dinner to discuss possibly working together.

TMZ obtained photos of the pair at that dinner last week ... where we're told Gibson discussed his much-hyped upcoming movie about Judah Maccabee. Our sources say Ghanizada was hip to the idea, but so far no official deal has been made.

Despite how the pics may appear, we're told the dinner was just business.

The world is spiraling out of control, and Mark Ruffalo believes there's only one way to save it -- telling TMZ, he already has a shockingly specific plan to create millions of jobs ... with his "genius" sidekick friend.

There's nothing like a good Italian meal to bring friends together -- per esempio, Brian Grazer and Brett Ratner.

Grazer is replacing Ratner as producer of the 2012 Oscars ... after Ratner resigned in the wake of criticism over a homophobic remark he made at a recent screening.

TMZ has obtained an excerpt of a never-before-seen documentary starring Dr. Conrad Murray -- in which the good doc reveals some very intimate details about the singer ... some of which are not flattering.

The documentary -- titled, "Michael Jackson and The Doctor: A Fatal Friendship" -- was shot while Murray awaited trial for manslaughter ... and features a shockingly candid look at the preparation of the trial, which includes intense fighting between Murray's lawyers.

The movie is being distributed by a company called Zodiak Rights ... which says it's already pre-sold the rights to air the documentary to "major broadcasters around the world."

Sources tell TMZ ... NBC is one of the broadcasters ... and will air the doc in the United States.

Kim Kardashian has already lost one man in her life this week, but she won't be losing another -- Tyler Perry is keeping her in his new film ... despite a serious outcry for him to divorce her from the project.

It was announced last month Kim would have a role in the movie "Marriage Counselor" -- which became even more ironic when announcing her split from Kris Humphries a week later.

Perry's fans have flocked to his web site, begging him to reconsider Kim. One post reads, "... why are you even considering putting no talent, show everything Kim K in a movie. I will not support that movie ..."

But Perry is standing strong, telling TMZ any rumors that say she's out are false. He added, "She is scheduled to work as planned."