Movies

John Travolta's "Gotti" biopic wasn't thrown to the wolves by Lionsgate Premiere, but instead bought out by a group that plans on distributing it to the masses, TMZ has learned.

One of the film's executive producers, Keya Morgan, tells TMZ the "Gotti" project was originally supposed to be distributed by Lionsgate Premiere ... a branch of the company that handles smaller, niche releases.

Morgan says his team believes the movie could do gangbusters in wide release and he even believes Travolta could end up with some hardware on his mantle.

We're told the original distro contract featured a buyback clause, so Morgan and others wired $10 million to prove to LGP they meant business and the company forked over the release rights. Morgan says LGP will profit big-time when the movie comes out.

Tom Selleck's Emmy-winning "Magnum, P.I." co-star, John Hillerman, died from heart disease ... TMZ has learned.

A spokesperson at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Texas tells us Hillerman had hypertensive arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease which proved fatal. We're told he also had complications due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as congestive heart failure.

John played Higgins -- Selleck's condescending, yet lovable, landlord on the '80s hit TV show.

As we reported, he died at his home in Houston last month. He was 84.

Add the entertainment industry to the list of things LeBron James is dominating ... 'cause one big-time producer says the King has already earned the title of Hollywood mogul!

TMZ Sports spoke with Morgan Spurlock (the "Super Size Me" guy) about working with LBJ on a new docu-series about the NBA superstar's family foundation's "I Promise School" for troubled youth in Akron, Ohio ... and Spurlock says he's totally pumped to share his story.

"What he does on the court is amazing, but what he's gonna do in that town is gonna change people's lives."

Check your kneecaps at the door -- Tonya Harding and Margot Robbie, the woman playing Tonya Harding, were hanging out together for the premiere of the Tonya biopic.

Margot and Tonya were face-to-face and even cheek-to-cheek at Tuesday night's "I, Tonya" event in Los Angeles. Critics are already applauding Margot's performance, but more importantly Tonya herself seems to dig it. As we know, ya don't wanna be on her bad side.

Tonya and Margot met during filming -- the skater gave the actress a few tips. The duo was all smiles and posed for pics with the rest of the cast. Hard to tell who's more starstruck here.

Sorry, did we say struck?

Morgan Spurlock thinks President Trump's obsession with McDonald's has psychological overtones ... proof he's an unhappy man looking for any form of fulfillment.

We got the "Super Size Me" star at LAX, and he weighed in on Trump's documented fast food campaign diet -- which at least once contained an estimated 2,500-plus calories full of junk food ... courtesy of good ol' Mickey D's.

According to Morgan, it's only a matter of time until Trump's heart explodes. Fifty four percent of Americans think that's impossible, because it presumes the existence of such an organ.

Consider this case closed ... 'cause one of the biggest Boston sports superfans on the planet says Rob Gronkowski deserved to be suspended for his late hit on a Bills player on Sunday.

TMZ Sports got Matt Damon's reaction to Gronk getting benched for one game after a controversial hit on Tre'Davious White ... and while you can tell he didn't wanna admit it, Damon says it was worthy of a suspension.

Lionsgate is dropping John Travolta's upcoming movie -- a John Gotti biopic -- just 10 days before it's scheduled release date.

The studio did not give any explanation for selling "Gotti" back to the production company in the 11th hour. The Kevin Connolly directed flick was set to come out on Dec. 15. It also co-starred Travolta's real-life wife Kelly Preston.

Chris Pratt is giving credit where it's due -- even if it's the QB on one of his favorite team's conference rivals -- 'cause he says Carson Wentz is "a helluva player" ... but he's got someone else in mind to win MVP this season.

TMZ Sports spoke with Star-Lord -- a HUGE Seahawks fan -- about the tight race for the league's best player ... and while he gives the Eagles star props, he says Russell Wilson shouldn't be overlooked.

Pierce Brosnan is being sued for carelessly starting a fire that partially torched his neighbor's house.

A fire ignited at Pierce's Malibu home in 2015 and spread to his neighbor Alexander Haagen's house, which would not have been damaged but for the fact that Pierce failed to properly dispose of rags that were susceptible to spontaneous combustion.

Haagen got paid for the damage by his insurance company and now the insurance company has turned around and sued the former Bond star.

Brosnan's home was extensively damaged in the blaze.

Chris Pratt, who just filed for divorce, will not join the hordes on online dating services.

We got Chris leaving Jimmy Kimmel's studio in L.A. Monday night, and asked for a status update on his Facebook impostor sitch. Sounds like it's still pending.

Chris sent a message to his female fans over the weekend warning 'em of a guy posing as him on the social media site ... supposedly asking for numbers and dates.

Dustin Hoffman got grilled like a cheeseburger when John Oliver tore apart the actor's response to claims he sexually harassed a crew member on a movie set.

Things got super heated in the middle of a TriBeCa Film panel discussion -- Hoffman started explaining his apology to the woman who claims he repeatedly harassed her 32 years ago on the set of "Death of a Salesman."

Oliver insisted the explanation was total BS, saying, "It's that kind of response to this stuff that pisses me off." It was ON from there. Hoffman fired back at the HBO host, asking why he believed all of the woman's allegations ... and questioned why she waited so long to say anything.

It was awkward, contentious, uncomfortable and very entertaining. For the audience, at least.

"Daddy's Home 2" actress Yamilah Saravong isn't bringing home the kinda dough Will Ferrell, Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg do, but the 11-year-old ain't doing bad ... on her hourly rate.

We got a hold of Yamilah's minor contract for the film. She only appears in one scene but she's mentioned throughout the film because Wahlberg's kid in the flick has a crush on her.

She got about $3,500 a week for the role and reportedly worked about 2 weeks -- plus, she got $60 a day for incidentals. Still not impressed? Yamilah's also making 2.5 percent of the film merch profits.

And that's how ya haul in more than 7 large for ONE scene. Well played, Yamilah's agent!

Colin Kaepernick made a rare public appearance Sunday night ... accepting an award for showing bravery to participate in national anthem demonstrations despite risking his job.

The free agent QB was honored with the Courageous Advocate award at the ACLU of SoCal's Bill of Rights dinner ... and was welcomed with a long applause from those in attendance.

"We must confront systemic oppression as a doctor would a disease. You identify it, you call it out, you treat it, and you defeat it," Kaep said.

“We all have an obligation no matter the risk, and regardless of reward, to stand up for our fellow men and women who are being oppressed with the understanding that human rights cannot be compromised."

Samuel L. Jackson's name was invoked during a crazy arrest at LAX this weekend, where cops say weapons were found on a guy claiming SLJ's his uncle.

An unidentified man got busted at the airport Sunday for carrying what police say were multiple weapons, including knives, a long piece of rebar and a handful of tools.

During the arrest, you can hear him say, "My uncle's Samuel Jackson. Samuel L. Jackson!" It's unclear what, if any, relation the actor might have been to him.

Law enforcement sources tell us police were alerted to a suspicious man hanging around the airport with a bow and arrow. When cops approached, we're told he booked it which set off a brief chase ... which ended when cops tazed him and took him down.

The man was taken to a hospital by ambulance, apparently having suffered injuries during the arrest. He was booked for possession of a dagger and resisting arrest.

As for Samuel ... he's probably tired of these motherf****** mentions.

Master P is going back to slangin' cell phones for the big screen -- but this time he wants a bunch of nobodys to join him.

P tells us he's working on the sequel to his 1998 movie, "I Got the Hook-Up" ... only now, he'll be looking to cast some unknown talent to star in it.

We're told P plans to reprise his role, except with all the technology updates since '98. It's also gonna star some big names, including his son, Romeo, who's co-producing the flick with his pops. Here's the catch ... P's hosting an open casting call on social media to find an unknown actor to fill a big role, plus smaller ones too.

P says he believes there's a lot of potential in social media standouts, and wants to give these folks their big break. And, of course, he wants any followers they can bring along.

One last thing -- the first 'Hook-Up' was distributed by Dimension, which is owned by Bob Weinstein. P says he hasn't decided on a distributor yet, but Dimension won't be 1 of 'em.

One of the best polo players on the planet says a big name Hollywood star could've made a living off the sport ... telling TMZ Sports Tommy Lee Jones is no joke on the pitch!!

We spoke with the David Beckham of polo at LAX about the best celeb player ... and without hesitation, Nacho Figueras says TLJ is hands-down at the top of the list.