Movies

It's the kind of 'Star Wars' secret normally kept under lock and key, but the new "Shadow Trooper" just got exposed by Lucasfilm's need to make big money merchandising the character.

Lucasfilm filed docs to lock up the trademark to manufacture and sell all things "Shadow Trooper" -- such as clothing, footwear, toys, gymnastic and sporting articles, electronic games, Christmas stockings, Christmas tree ornaments, snow globes ... pretty much everything under Tatooine's 2 suns.

Shadow has already been introduced to the 'Star Wars' universe via video games, but hasn't been in any of the movies. This move is a strong sign that's about to change. 'Star Wars' geeks have speculated a debut in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" ... which comes out in December.

Lucasfilm filed similar docs for Kylo Ren, BB-8 and Poe Dameron long before 'The Force Awakens' was released.

A horse went down like the Titanic near the "Fast 8" set in Iceland after gale force winds sent a fake iceberg flying into a paddock where the animal was grazing.

Local police tell us the horse, named Jupiter, had to be euthanized. Strong winds sent a portion of a plastic iceberg -- a set piece for the movie -- flying and it struck the horse, breaking its leg. Another horse was also injured but is expected to recover.

Neither was involved in the production -- just a case of wrong time and place.

We're told production called the horse owner and broke the news but said insurance would cover the cost of the horse and fence repair.

Filming for 'Star Wars: Episode VIII' is underway in Croatia and there are a lot of new faces on set.

We got pics of two new alien species ... and a land speeder, which looks like an upgrade from any of the pod racers in 'Episode I.' Then again, anything is an upgrade from 'Episode I.'

Production moved from a London studio to Dubrovnik this month and set designers got creative with the Old Town's gothic architecture ... giving it some 'Star Wars' flare! Filming is about 5 weeks in, but the movie won't hit theaters until December 2017.

Jennifer Garner turned a mother/daughter dance into a fangirl sesh.

Garner was filming "The Tribes of Palos Verdes" at Friendly Hills Country Club in Whittier, CA Friday night. The club was also hosting a mother/daughter dance for Grazide Elementary.

Producers gently asked the hoofers to keep it down during shooting, so the make good was Garner making a surprise appearance, taking the mic and talking to the group.

Garner told the kids they probably wouldn't be allowed to see her movie ... it's about a wife who goes nuts when she suspects her husband is cheating.

George Jung's gone from filthy rich drug smuggler to dirt poor unemployment ... but that's finally paying off for him with a reality TV gig about poverty.

Of course, Johnny Depp played Jung in "Blow" -- portraying his heyday in the drug game, but since getting out of prison in 2014, he's struggled big time to make a buck. All of which made him perfect for "Poverty Sucks" ... a reality show produced by Tremendous Films.

Producers tell us it focuses on Jung learning normal tasks like opening a checking account, going grocery shopping, etc. -- y'know all the stuff he did while doing his cocaine kingpin thang. The show's also about him rebuilding his relationship with his daughter, Kristina.

Moonie, the dog who shared the big screen with Reese Witherspoon in "Legally Blonde" has died.

Reese just broke the ruff news ... posting a pic of her and Moonie, who played Bruiser Woods. She said, "I will never forget all the days we spent together ... I'm sure his tail is wagging in the sky."

Moonie was a rescued chihuahua before landing the "Legally Blonde" gig ... and was good pals with Gidget, the Taco Bell dog.

He was 18.

#RIPBruiser

Jonathan Goldsmith -- best known as "The Most Interesting Man in the World" until yesterday -- is staying thirsty ... for bigger, better gigs.

Dos Equis announced it was retiring the famous commercial character on Wednesday, and Goldsmith tells TMZ ... he immediately got his management team on the horn to relaunch his film and TV career.

Goldsmith's been with Dos Equis for 9 years, but before that he was a very successful working actor ... starring in movies like "Hang 'Em High" and TV series like "Dallas," "Knots Landing," and "CHiPs."

He says the Mexican beer gig was very, very good to him -- about $1 mil a year for 5 days of work. And while real life JG counts Prez Obama and Richard Branson as friends, and clears active land mines in Vietnam -- he's hoping for new roles to break the 'Most Interesting Man' mold.

At least Dos Equis is sending him off with a bang ...

Yes, yes we do.

And check out the woman with the best job in Hollywood ... making sure Zac's well-oiled abs stay oiled on the "Baywatch" set in Miami.

Thank you, whoever you are.

Tilikum, the SeaWorld orca that became a household name after the "Blackfish" documentary is fighting for his life.

SeaWorld officials revealed the 35-year-old whale has become lethargic and his health is deteriorating. SeaWorld says they've given Tili meds for what they believe is a bacterial infection, but his condition has not improved.

The statement did not sound optimistic, saying, "Our veterinarians are focused on managing his illness in a way that makes him comfortable and creates an enriching life."

Tilikum has been held in captivity at Seaworld for 23 years and reportedly killed three people, two trainers in 1991 and 2010 and a man who snuck in after hours in 1999.

Mark Wahlberg has officially signed on to produce a movie about the life of NBA star Caron Butler ... this according to Caron himself.

The movie will be based on Butler's autobiography 'Tuff Juice' -- in which the Sacramento Kings forward details how he overcame a hard life as a drug dealing youth to make it to the NBA.

As we first reported, the two were in talks to turn the story into a movie back in September -- and now, Mark has signed an agreement essentially buying the rights to Caron's story.

"I’m excited to take the next step towards sharing my story with an even larger audience and it’s a blessing to have someone as well-known and respected as Mark Wahlberg by my side," Butler said.

"I wanted to tell my story because I’m living proof that it is possible to overcome adversity and make a better life for yourself and your family. The response from the book was overwhelming and when someone like Mark Wahlberg tells you that your life could be a movie, you listen."

So, who will play Caron?? He previously told us his dream actor is Michael B. Jordan.

Sacha Baron Cohen turned the "Baywatch" set into a mutton fest.

Sacha was decked out in "The Brothers Grimsby" regalia Monday, as he crashed the Miami set and palled around with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron.

If called upon, Cohen certainly has the requisite swimsuit.

Mel Brooks swears he didn't mastermind a viral marketing scheme for "Spaceballs 2" by plastering posters in the NYC subway ... but he couldn't be happier it happened.

Brooks laughed off the rumors Sunday in Beverly Hills ... but says he's thrilled the flick is held in such high esteem by the youngins.

As for the long-awaited sequel -- Mel plays coy, but it's definitely on his mind.

The host of that awesome (old) kids game show "Legends of the Hidden Temple" is on the verge of a comeback ... because he's in talks to cameo in the upcoming movie version of the show.

In case you didn't know ... producers are turning the classic Nickelodeon show into a movie -- which reportedly focuses on 3 siblings who embark on a crazy jungle adventure.

But to add to the nostalgia ... producers have reached out to the original host, Kirk Fogg, to make a cameo.

Since there is no game show element to the movie, we're told producers are scripting a part for Fogg that will pay homage to his duties on the '90s show.

And BONUS -- we're told Olmec, the talking Mayan head, will also get a role in the flick.

And remember the old team names?? The green monkeys, red jaguars and silver snakes?? We're told producers are also trying to find a way to incorporate those things into the movie too!

Sounds awesome ... just one question -- when's the 'Guts' movie???

Sports Illustrated model Kelly Rohrbach does just as much justice to a one-piece as a bikini.

Leo DiCaprio's ex showed off the new "Baywatch" reds while shooting the flick Friday afternoon in Miami ... and it looks like they've added a golden touch to the suit Pam Anderson made famous.

Tony Dyson, the man behind the birth of 'Star Wars' character R2-D2 has died.

Sources close to Dyson tell TMZ Tony was recently at a convention in Holland and flew back to Malta where he lives. We're told Tony's girlfriend became worried when she couldn't contact him so she called the cops. When police went to Tony's house, they found his body.

Local reports say police are investigating, but at this time there's nothing suspicious about his death.

Tony was the technician behind the creation of the R2-D2 robot for 'Star Wars: A New Hope' in the '70s. Tony also did robotics work on "Superman II" with Christopher Reeve and "Dragonslayer" in 1981.

He was 68 years old.

R.I.P.

Nina Simone would go ballistic if she knew a light-skinned actress with dark makeup was portraying her in an upcoming biopic ... so say members of the late singer's family.

Nina's brother, Sam Waymon, tells us Nina would blanch at the studio's choice of Zoe Saldana -- whose skin was drastically darkened to resemble her. Sam says "painting up" a light-skinned actress is insulting, and "raping Nina's legacy."

Nina was a civil rights activist, and Sam says there are plenty of qualified dark-skinned actresses who could have pulled off the role ... like Viola Davis or India Arie.