Movies

"Man of Steel" star Michael Shannon will soon strap on Elvis' blue suede shoes for a feature film ... and the actor chilled suspicious minds during a concert in Chicago with a pretty awesome live performance.

Shannon is set to play Elvis in an upcoming flick about the day Richard Nixon met the King -- with Kevin Spacey reportedly playing the Prez. -- and we got footage of the actor working on his Presley.

During his set with a Lou Reed cover band, Michael talked about the upcoming role -- and then gave the audience a preview of his Elvis pipes with a rendition of "Blue Suede Shoes."

Would Elvis approve? Sound off in the comments.

He dominated on defense for the Dallas Cowboys ... but now former Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Ellis is quarterbacking his first Hollywood feature film -- and he's got some pretty big stars on board.

TMZ Sports has learned Ellis -- who made millions during his 11-year NFL career -- is the executive producer on a movie called "Carter High" ... starring Vivica A. Fox, Charles S. Dutton and David Banner.

The movie is based on the real life 1988 Carter High School football team -- a team that was rocked by scandal following allegations of players committing armed robbery and cheating in the classroom.

"As the executive producer, my role was to fill in wherever was needed. I tried to make sure everything flowed," Ellis says.

Ellis says his team reached out to former NFL star Jessie Armstead -- who was on the '88 Carter team -- and got him to participate in the movie, which Greg hopes to release around Thanksgiving.

"This is something I'd like to continue to do," Greg says about his new career ... "It's a lot of work but I like to inspire and shock people. Movies can make a huge impact on lives.

The guy who plays Bobby Brown in the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic says the movie chronicling the singer's life and marriage is "a love story" ... a love story presumably mixed with drugs, booze and allegations of domestic violence.

Arlen Escarpeta was leaving Coral Tree Cafe in L.A. and was clearly bummed that Whitney's family boycotted the recent premiere of "Whitney."

The actor says the entire cast and crew did their best to portray the late singer's life respectfully ... and he hopes the family and Bobby will eventually watch it.

It may have pissed off his BFF Kim Jong Un ... but Dennis Rodman didn't seem to have a problem with "The Interview."

The Worm was leaving Talesai restaurant on Sunset when we asked if watched the Seth Rogen comedy that became an international political issue over a death scene involving Un.

Unclear if Rodman actually saw the flick, but when we asked him how he felt about the situation as a whole ... he told us, "It's all good."

No anger. No outrage. Nothing.

Interesting note ... Thursday was Kim Jong Un's birthday.

Last year, Rodman celebrated the occasion by singing "Happy Birthday" to Un in person. This year ... Thai food in Hollywood.

Wonder what changed?

Jon Hamm just proposed to a Hollywood icon ... and she's more than twice his age.

Hamm ran into Academy Award winning film editor Anne V. Coates Wednesday night at Chateau Marmont and couldn't stop gushing over her work ... she's the cutting room genius behind a ton of classics, including "Lawrence of Arabia."

When he got down on one knee to shower the 89-year-old with praise it got real ... the entire restaurant shouted, "Proposal!" ... so he hammed it up, took her hand and asked her to marry him.

Unclear if she said yes ... but when Hamm left, an equally starstruck Ethan Hawke swooped in and got pretty handsy with her himself.

It's not good to toy with emotions, boys ... especially at her age.

"Vacation" actors Steele Stebbins and Catherine Missal will have plenty of spending money on their next road trip ... the child stars are making bank on the famous franchise reboot.

Clark would be proud ... the 11-year-old Stebbins is getting $65K to play Rusty Griswold's (Ed Helms) youngest son, Kevin ... if producers go for a sequel he'll land another $150K.

Missal -- who's just 15 -- is looking at a more modest $15,600 to play Adena -- no doubt a love interest for one of the two Griswold boys.

The best part ... they probably have no idea what Wally World is ... neither kid was even alive for the first four National Lampoon Vacation flicks.

It was the scene that got the chop from "For the Love of the Game" ... Kevin Costner in the buff ... but KC tells TMZ Sports the fact his junk hit the cutting room floor doesn't bother him at all.

Back when the movie came out in '99, there were reports that the scene contained full-frontal Costner nudity ... but studio execs gave the scene the chop before it hit the big screen.

(You can imagine the emotions one must feel after being told your nude scene wasn't good enough to make the cut.)

But now Costner is telling us what really went down on the set -- and if he'll ever consider dropping trou on camera ever again.

Sorry ladies, don't hold your breath ...

Bella Thorne is best known for starring in Disney's "Shake It Up" ... but to her friends she's probably now known as the one you hit up for money.

The 17-year-old is scoring a bundle in her upcoming flick, "The Duff." According to court docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Bella will get $100K for her role as Madison in the new teen comedy. If it's a hit she could triple her haul.

And get this ... if the movie grosses more than $60M she stands to make another $200K in bonuses.

Next time you get lunch, she's totally buying.

Kevin Hart flatly rejected a rose seller Tuesday night, because it's a waste of money now that he's sealed the deal with his woman.

The clip is hysterical. Kevin's leaving The Emerson Theatre in Hollywood when the rose lady approaches him. He does a show and tell with his fiancee Eniko Parrish to demonstrate why roses are now superfluous to his life.

But then there's a turn ... and what Kevin does is awesome.

Turns out famed author Nicholas Sparks didn't suddenly decide this week to end his 25-year marriage ... it looks like the deed was done months ago, and there are BIG financial repercussions.

TMZ has obtained a "postmarital agreement" filed by "The Notebook" author and wife Catherine back in August. They agreed neither would seek alimony from the other.

They acknowledge neither has a claim on the assets the other accumulates after their separation.

What's pretty clear is this ... they seem way more than "separated," which is what they told People. The document was signed after a quarter century of marriage, and it seems obvious ... Nicholas and Catherine decided last Summer their marriage was over.

Here's what it smells like ... they worked out a property settlement agreement and Catherine got a big chunk of change.

Ludacris likes his proposals like he likes his movies ... FAST AND FURIOUS ... because we're told he got married over the holidays after proposing the very same day.

According to our sources, Luda popped the question to long time GF Eudoxie during the day ... then took her out to dinner at a Georgia restaurant. When they returned home, a wedding dress was draped over a piece of furniture.

This was all a surprise to Eudoxie, but she was game so they got married on the spot. A few friends and family members were there to celebrate.

BTW ... Luda's mom picked out the dress, and Eudoxie had no objections.

They blew out of town a day or so later for their honeymoon in Costa Rica.

Congrats!

It looks like a KKK rally, but it's actually a clumsily designed shroud to protect famous bride Cameron Diaz from the paparazzi.

Multiple pics were taken by various photogs of the backyard scene. Cameron and Benji Madden didn't want their entrance captured by outsiders, so 4 people carried the contraption to the altar, with the bride safely tucked inside.

Unclear if the big reveal will be in a magazine, but we're betting that's the case.

Friendly advice ... a chuppa would have done nicely.

Oh dear ... someone tried to burn down the San Francisco home made famous in "Mrs. Doubtfire."

It happened at 8:00 PM Monday. The owner of the home, a doctor, believes the culprit is a disgruntled former patient.

As for how the fire started ... fire officials say the arsonist doused the doormat with gasoline or some other type of flammable liquid.

The damage wasn't serious -- the owner was able to contain it before it got out of control.

Just a few months ago, the iconic house served as a memorial site after the death of Robin Williams.

Famed author Nicholas Sparks has separated from his wife after 25 years of marriage.

"The Notebook" author told People, "This is, of course, not a decision we've made lightly. We remain close friends with deep respect for each other and love for our children."

The Sparks have 3 sons and twin daughters, between the ages of 12 and 23.

The language, "we remain close friends" sounds like more than a separation.

We checked and so far there's no evidence anyone has filed legal docs to end the marriage.

There's nothing sci-fi about Sterling Jerins' payday in the upcoming Gerard Butler blockbuster "Geostorm" ... it's real, and it's big.

Producers are handing the 10-year-old actress $125K for her role as Hannah in the flick -- she'll also have plenty of privacy off set in her trailer -- one half of a huge WiFi ready "double-banger."

If you don't know her name you will -- the young star best known for roles in the show "Deception" and Brad Pitt's "World War Z" will be getting shared billing with her co-stars.

She's learning the ropes fast.

Anyone hoping for a "Space Jam" sequel (all four of you) is about to be seriously bummed ... 'cause one of the movie's stars is telling TMZ Sports why it should NEVER HAPPEN, and it's all about LeBron James.

Thom Barry -- who played MJ's dad in the movie -- was out in Beverly Hills recently when we asked about rumors that LeBron might pick up where His Airness left off in a new Jam.

If you're a fan of King James, prepare to be pissed at this vid -- Barry throws a couple shots at LeBron (and Kobe too) for even thinking they could slide into Jordan's Jordans on the big screen.