Movies

Wade Robson, the man featured in the upcoming Michael Jackson documentary, "Leaving Neverland," says his endgame is not necessarily to mute MJ.

We got Robson at LAX Thursday AM and asked him about the film that will make its debut Friday at the Sundance Film Festival. He says the reason he got involved goes beyond his allegations against the singer ... he says the point is to raise awareness.

Robson along with James Safechuck are the centerpieces of the doc. Both men say MJ befriended them as children and molested them.

The MJ Estate has gone on the attack, calling both men liars, but Robson says he doesn't care.

Damon Dash is duping the general public about an upcoming movie he claims to have ties to when he really had nothing to do with it at all ... according to a new lawsuit.

The legendary hip-hop mogul is being sued by director Josh Webber and Muddy Water Pictures for allegedly trying to advertise and shop a movie he was once a part of -- but later dropped from -- and pushing it as his own flick ... causing confusion in the marketplace.

In the doc, obtained by TMZ, Josh and MWP say Dame has been sending promotional material to outlets like BET for a movie he's been calling "The List" ... which Josh and MWP say has actually been renamed "Dear Frank" since Dame's departure.

Here's the deal ... Josh and MWP claim Dame was tied to the project back in 2016 and was supposed to direct. Unfortunately, they say Dame proved to not be up to the task ... as they allege he was often high on set while they shot at his Sherman Oaks property.

Josh and MWP say they officially dropped Dame in 2018, since no official contract was ever signed between the parties ... and they went on to make the film, which is due out in February and stars Claudia Jordan. But now, Josh and MWP say Dame has been trying to push himself as part of the project ... even though he isn't.

They're suing Dame for defamation and copyright infringement -- and are asking a judge to declare once and for all that they, in fact, own the rights to "Dear Frank." Josh and MWP also want damages.

Ansel Elgort and his high school sweetheart escaped the bad L.A. weather over the weekend with a trip south of the border ... where they both gave off muy caliente vibes.

The "Baby Driver" star -- who'll soon be the new "West Side Story" star -- was spotted hitting a beach in Mexico Sunday with his longtime girlfriend, Violetta Komyshan ... and they both looked incredible in their swimwear as they packed on the PDA.

Ansel was also sporting a new 'do -- bleaching his normally brown hair blond, and definitely pulling it off too. Violetta, of course, looked hot as hell too au naturel.

The couple has been dating since their high school days at Fiorello H. LaGuardia School in NYC -- and they've been going strong for seven years ever since.

DJ Paul says African-Americans have a lot to be happy about as the nation celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day ... because being black is in right now.

We asked the Three 6 Mafia rapper how he felt about the state of race relations heading into the holiday -- and he was totally optimistic ... probably more so than most people would be.

DJP, who's from Memphis -- the city where Dr. King was assassinated -- called 2018 a great year for black people, and he named some milestones to back up his claim.

Bottom line for Paul, this year's a big W for Dr. King.

Tom Sizemore could be taking a long trip, and not to a sunny tropical island, either -- he's staring down the possibility of a year in jail after his recent drug bust ... TMZ has learned.

The Burbank City Attorney has charged Sizemore with 2 counts of possession of heroin, and 2 counts of possession of medication without a prescription. We broke the story -- the actor was pulled over in Burbank a couple weeks ago for expired tags and a missing front license plate, but he got arrested after cops say they found meth and heroin in the car.

Now, luckily for Sizemore all 4 charges are misdemeanors ... so he won't go to prison if convicted. In addition to the year in jail, he could also get hit with a $1,000 fine.

Bam Margera's friends are seriously worried about his ongoing battle with alcoholism, even though he's clearing the legal hurdles stemming from his DUI case.

On the same day fellow 'Jackass' star Brandon Novak told us he's concerned over his buddy's drinking habits, Bam's lawyer was busy submitting legal docs informing the court that Bam was ahead of schedule with the terms of his DUI sentence.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Bam completed a 3-month online alcohol program and attended 10 AA meetings. He's still on probation.

Brandon told us he was super sketched out when Bam checked himself out of a Bay Area rehab facility earlier this month, because he believes Bam could end up killing himself if he doesn't clean up his act.

Joey King isn't only thinking about movie critics reviewing her role as convicted murderer Gypsy Rose Blanchard -- she's worried about the way Gypsy will perceive it when she gets outta prison.

We got Joey at LAX where she told us all about her upcoming Hulu series, "The Act," which tells the story of Gypsy's highly disturbing upbringing ... and eventual murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard in 2015.

She fully committed to the complicated role ... even opting to shave her head instead of using makeup and a bald cap.

Gypsy and her mother's tragic story was already the subject of the popular HBO documentary, "Mommy Dead and Dearest."

If you missed it, Dee Dee suffered from Munchausen by Proxy -- a mental disorder where a parent fabricates illnesses in their child for sympathy or attention.

Gypsy pled guilty to murdering her mother and is currently serving 10-years in Missouri.

Solange Knowles looks like she's getting just as comfortable behind a camera as she already is behind a microphone -- 'cause she was all set to film something in her hometown.

Beyonce's younger sister popped up in Houston Saturday with a whole film crew behind her ... and a camera in hand. Eyewitnesses tell us she made an appearance at the SHAPE Community Center off of Almeda Rd. and Alabama St., where we're told she was chatting up folks inside and discussing different shots she wanted to get.

One eyewitness told us it appeared she was at the helm of either a movie or documentary of some sort ... and was trying to keep it low key.

Solange hasn't announced any new film projects as of late, and nothing official seems to be in production under her IMDb page either. That doesn't mean something isn't in the works though. And besides, she's already got a couple visual projects under her belt.

She put out a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of her 2016 album, "A Seat at the Table," and also directed SZA's 2017 music video for "The Weekend."

While she hasn't put out much new music since her Grammy-winning record, she has been busy heading up art pieces in L.A. ... and teasing us with a follow-up album that has yet to be released.

R. Lee Ermey, the former Marine who rose to fame by playing the sadistic Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in "Full Metal Jacket," was laid to rest Friday at Arlington National Cemetery.

A former Marine drill instructor turned successful actor, Ermey, had his cremated remains buried with full military honors. There was a casket team, firing party and bugler, plus a folding and presentation of the American flag.

Ermey's military honor comes 9 months after his death last April from pneumonia. He was 74.

The actor enlisted in the Marine Corp when he was 17 years old, and he served in Okinawa and in Vietnam.

Ermey gained worldwide fame following his role in Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket" in 1987, delivering his famous line, "What is your major malfunction?!" Ermey said he used his experience as a drill instructor to bring his character to life.

The blistering Michael Jackson documentary premiering at Sundance will also feature angry pro-Jackson protesters, and we've learned local police are gearing up for possible confrontations.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the Park City PD is aware of an anti-documentary protest being organized on social media, so cops are going to beef up their presence both inside and outside the premiere with uniformed and undercover officers.

We're told law enforcement is most concerned about disruptions taking place during the Q&A portion of the screening -- historically, that's when protesters have caused the biggest disturbances. However, we're told cops won't stop people from exercising their First Amendment rights, so long as protesters don't block sidewalks or entrances.

As you know ... the doc, "Leaving Neverland," explores alleged sexual abuse by the King of Pop, and the film is already being slammed by the late singer's estate. Despite outside pressure to pull the film, Sundance officials say it's full steam ahead.

All Sundance events have increased security -- including bag checks and bomb dogs -- but extra resources will be allocated to the MJ screening when it premieres Friday, Jan. 25.

Michael Jackson's rolling over in his grave, just to get stabbed in the back by HBO -- the producers of the controversial documentary, "Leaving Neverland" -- that's his estate's take, anyway.

The estate's made no secret of its feelings about the documentary featuring 2 of MJ's alleged molestation victims -- and Wednesday night it took a shot on Twitter, posting an old promo for a Michael concert that aired on HBO.

The 1992 concert -- Michael's first to air on TV -- "gave HBO their highest rated special ever" ... according to the estate, which added ... "Now, to repay him they give a voice to admitted liars."

'Neverland' is set to premiere next week at the Sundance Film Festival, and will air on HBO after that.

It's interesting the estate thinks a network -- which, no doubt, paid Jackson to air his concert -- is somehow beholden to him more than 25 years later.

That's just not how showbiz works. Facts.

Cops in Park City -- site of the annual Sundance Film Festival -- will be utilizing a hotline to combat sexual assault again this year ... after it was established in 2018 in the wake of allegations against Harvey Weinstein.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Park City PD and the Utah Attorney General's Office are reopening the "code of conduct" hotline, and spreading the word for festival attendees to utilize it and report any signs of sexual misconduct.

We're told the AG's Office is staffing the phone lines while cops will handle any investigations. Park City officers also held a meeting with hotel managers and event security staff last week to go over proper protocols and reinforce their motto -- "if you see something, say something."

Our sources say flyers will also be put up around busy Sundance spots to promote the hotline and the importance of reporting sexual assault and other crimes during the film fest.

The hotline was launched during last year's festival in wake of the Weinstein scandal, which included Rose McGowan accusing the film producer of raping her at Sundance in 1997. Weinstein was also sued in December by a woman claiming he sexually assaulted her at the Waldorf Astoria in Park City in 2013 after meeting her at Sundance.

We're told the hotline was deemed a successful and effective tool in curbing incidents of sexual misconduct last year. It also reportedly led to an investigation of an alleged incident from the '90s.

Dave Chappelle was noncommittal on his feelings about some old skits that mocked some shocking behavior by R. Kelly.

We got the comic in WeHo Tuesday night leaving Craig's, and asked about his sketches from "Chappelle's Show" where he created a music video -- titled "Piss on You" -- mocking the real video of R. Kelly urinating on what appears to be a teenage girl.

Dave also did a comedy sketch on the jury selection process in the criminal trial, and used R. Kelly's scandal as material for years.

Dave said he didn't have a vivid memory of the sketches and needed a relook.

Our photog also asked if he had regrets over not participating in "Surviving R. Kelly." The show's EP, Dream Hampton, claimed Chappelle was among a number of celebs who turned down interviews.

Sylvester Stallone has murderer's regret -- admitting he feels TERRIBLE for killing off Apollo Creed in "Rocky IV" way back in 1985.

Of course, Stallone didn't just play Rocky Balboa -- he wrote the first 6 installments of the "Rocky" franchise -- including the scene in "Rocky IV" when Ivan Drago beat Creed to death in an exhibition match.

Now, while celebrating Carl Weathers' 71st birthday this week -- Sly expressed remorse for ending Apollo's life when there was so much more 'Rocky' money to be made!

"I have to admit I regret having Apollo passing away so soon," Stallone wrote ... "He was Irreplaceable."

He added, "Besides being a great actor he is the BEST cinema boxer of ALL TIME ! Truly amazing , GRACE , POWER , and UNBELIEVABLY FAST!!!!! Never ever to be duplicated! Thank you my friend, never could have done it without you!!!"

There were rumblings that Weathers was upset he wasn't included in the "Creed" movies -- and back in 2015, he gave TMZ the ol' "no comment" when we brought up the alleged issues.

But now, it seems the two are on good terms -- Weathers ended up attending the "Creed" premiere and has praised the movie publicly.

By the way, Stallone reportedly wanted to work in an Apollo cameo in "Creed 2" -- where Adonis Creed would see visions of his father while being hospitalized after a fight ... but he was ultimately overruled by the director.