Movies

10:37 AM PT -- It appears Dame has accepted Lee's apology, saying, "We're good bro...appreciate the honesty...time to move forward let's forget the bubble gum sh*t and get the money."

Lee Daniels says Damon Dash gave him a big wake-up call -- a $2 million one -- and now, in full gratitude, he plans to pay off the debt.

The acclaimed director told us he's been thinking about what Dame did for him, and realizes he -- more than any Hollywood studio -- helped him launch his career. Lee admits it's a shame it took Dame accosting him in the middle of a Diana Ross concert for him to realize it, but now wants to do "the right thing."

Lee finally told his side of the story when he sat down for an episode of "Raq Rants" ... telling Raquel, "This black man gave me money when nobody ... would give me money. He did it."

He made it clear Dame's $2 million was an investment, not a loan, but because the 2nd movie -- "Shadowboxer" -- didn't make money, Dame didn't get repaid.

As we reported, Dash has sued Daniels for $5 mil -- the $2 mil plus interest -- but Lee says "We're gonna squash it -- and I feel good about it, he needs it right now and I'm happy to help him, 'cause he was helping me."

Michelle Obama + Kerry Washington + Spago = Biggest Power Lunch in Hollywood!

We got the former First Lady and the ex-"Scandal" star leaving the Bev Hills hot spot Thursday afternoon -- eat your heart out, Shonda Rimes.

The meeting is more proof Michelle's instantly become a big-time player in showbiz ... on the heels of the Obamas' deal to produce content for Netflix.

We asked Kerry if Michelle got her to sign on the dotted line for a project. Her answer was coy, and therefore ... interesting.

More evidence they were trying to keep the meeting on the DL -- they pulled the classic Hollywood move of leaving through separate exits. Michelle went out the front door, interestingly ... while Kerry slipped out the back.

The judge in the Kellen Winslow rape case just denied the ex-NFL star's request to be released from jail and put on house arrest because he's afraid Kellen could escape with some 'Mission Impossible' trickery.

Yes, we're serious.

Winslow's lawyer told the court that Kellen's house is equipped with a surveillance system -- and they'd be happy to give prosecutors full access to monitor the ex-NFL player at all times.

But, the judge shot that down -- in part because he saw Tom Cruise in a 'Mission Impossible' movie fool the Russians by tricking the cameras ... and he's worried Kellen could pull off the same move.

"So, what about all these movies I watch like Mission Impossible and stuff like that where they create this endless loop?" the judge said in open court.

"So the guy, like the Russians watching something ... he sees everything is fine and meanwhile, Tom Cruise and all his folks are going around the scene and doing all this stuff."

Yes, the judge is worried Kellen Winslow will use spy tricks.

Kellen's lawyer assured the judge, "Tom Cruise isn't on our team yet."

Ultimately, bail was denied. Kellen remains in jail until his next court hearing.

Zion Williamson did his best Michael Jordan impression Thursday ... throwing down a hammer dunk -- after taking off from the free throw line!!

It all went down at Zion's high school gym in Spartanburg, SC -- where he's put on a few dunk shows this summer.

The Duke commit took a running start from one side of the court ... planted his toes on the free throw stripe -- and stretched out like M.J. in Space Jam for the throwdown.

FYI ... it's 15 feet from where Z took off to where he landed ... and for good measure -- he put down a left-handed windmill to show it was no fluke.

The guy who sentenced the 'Seinfeld' squad to a year behind bars in the series finale -- and who helped turned Willem Dafoe into the Green Goblin -- has died.

Actor Stanley Anderson passed away Sunday just six weeks after being diagnosed with brain cancer, according to a family statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

Anderson is perhaps best known at Judge Arthur Vandelay, who presided over Jerry Seinfeld and co.'s criminal trial in season 9's final episode, where the gang was thrown in jail for violating the "Good Samaritan Law" in a fake town in Massachusetts.

He also played General Slocum in Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" -- who told Norman Osborn he was gonna cut his funding if he didn't try his ability enhancing serum on a human subject ... thus forcing Norm to try it on himself and become Spidey's arch nemesis.

Anderson has starred in a number of other movies and shows over the years, including parts in "RoboCop 3," "Armageddon," "Runaway Jury," "NYPD Blue," "The Drew Carey Show," "Law & Order," and many, many others. His acting career dates back to the '50s.

He tended to play men of authority -- doctors, judges, psychiatrists ... the President. Makes sense too ... he had quite the on-camera presence.

Scarlett Johansson's fired up about a former Scientologist making a claim -- on live TV -- that she once auditioned to date Tom Cruise ... and she's not letting him get away with it.

The 'Avengers' star put Brendan Tighe -- who says he used to work on Cruise's Scientology security team -- on blast after he appeared on Megyn Kelly's NBC show Wednesday and claimed she was on a list of women who auditioned to date him after his split from Nicole Kidman years ago.

Johansson tells The Hollywood Reporter, "The very idea of any person auditioning to be in a relationship is so demeaning. I refuse for anyone to spread the idea that I lack the integrity to choose my own relationships."

She added ... "Only a man aka Brendan Tighe would come up with a crazy story like that."

Tighe also claimed Scarlett's audition must not have gone well, because actress and Scientologist Erika Christensen had to distance herself from her afterward.

Damon Dash says Lee Daniels had no problem asking him for money and exploiting his goodwill, but he has a major problem keeping his word to pay it back ... and Dame's sick of it.

The Roc-A-Fella mogul told us Wednesday on "TMZ Live" ... Daniels ended up millions in the hole to him after making 2 movies -- 2004's "The Woodsman" and 2005's "Shadowboxer."

According to Dame ... Daniels promised him he'd get his money back no matter what, but then blew him off -- which is why Dash started suing Daniels in 2014. As we reported, they struck a settlement deal, but Damon tells us Lee's sticking to his "culture vulture" ways ... and still hasn't squared up.

Before he filed a new suit, Damon confronted Lee at a Diana Ross concert about getting stiffed ... and Daniels appeared to be contrite. Apparently, not enough to please Damon and keep their issue out of court.

Ron Howard is taking issue with reports Disney is putting future 'Star Wars' spin-offs on ice after his flick fell short, money-wise.

We got the director of "Solo: A Star Wars Story" Tuesday in Bev Hills just days after it was reported Disney was suspending all pre-planned 'Star Wars' story movies because 'Solo' failed to deliver the studio's desired box office numbers. That includes the Obi-Wan movie. Ron seems to say there are inaccuracies in the reporting, but he's not specific.

You'd think Ron would take the news to heart, considering his flick is being blamed for the rumored decision, but that ain't the case. As far as he knows, 'Solo' got good reviews and a generally decent turnout in ticket sales. Maybe not what Disney wanted ... but he's satisfied.

Damon Dash is going after Lee Daniels once again, this time for screwing him out of a movie producer credit and some big time cash ... according to a new suit.

The Roc-A-Fella mogul claims Daniels promised to try to get him on as an EP for a Richard Pryor biopic ... along with 5 percent on Daniels' backend profits.

According to the docs, Daniels bailed on the project ... and didn't deliver on his promises to Dame.

Dash is suing for $5 million.

It's interesting, Dash was seen confronting Daniels at a Diana Ross show at the Hollywood Bowl last week, informing him he's about to hit him with another lawsuit if he doesn't get paid soon. Daniels seemed to agree he was in the wrong.

Natalie Portman knows how to make an entrance at Disneyland -- Cute kiddo in tow? Check. Stormtrooper as your muscle? No doubt!

Natalie and her family hit up The Happiest Place on Earth on Sunday where they got the royal treatment. The entire family was there ... hubby Benjamin Millepied, 1-year-old Amalia and 7-year-old son, Aleph.

They hit up It's a Small World and Big Thunder Mountain, but with Queen Amidala in town, it was a no-brainer that she also sit in for a 'Star Wars' show. Some of the kids, including Aleph, took the stage for a lightsaber show against Amidala's grandson, Kylo Ren.

Marsai Martin -- best known for playing daughter Diane on the hit series "Black-ish" -- might be on her way to being the next mega-rich child star ... with a little luck.

The 13-year-old actress will star in an upcoming film titled "Little," and according to her contract -- obtained by TMZ -- she's guaranteed to bank $200,000 for her role ... with a possibility of an additional $300k based on how much money it hauls in.

Not only is Martin starring in the film, she's listed as an executive producer as well.

It gets better, potentially, for Marsai -- if "Little" is a big enough success to land a sequel ... she'll score another $400k and up to $600k in box office bonuses. That's a cool MIL for the sequel if you're keeping track.

Marsai will get way more wealthy if there's a third installment of the "Little" franchise -- $800k guaranteed and up to $900k in bonuses.

Pretty sweet deal for a teenager.

Kobe Bryant's ex-teammate is going to bat for the future NBA Hall of Famer ... with Matt Barnes telling TMZ Sports Kobe will end up in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences someway, somehow.

Remember, Bryant was just denied entry into the exclusive club, despite winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Short for "Dear Basketball."

Barnes was at an Athletes vs. Cancer event at Skybar on Thursday where he told us Kobe's bounced back from far worse Ls in his career ... and he expects to see the same thing with the Academy membership.

"They're gonna make it tough on him, but I know he's a hard worker," Barnes told us ... "One way or another, he'll end up in there."

The estate of Bernie Casey -- a former NFL-star-turned actor -- is being sued by a woman claiming to be his widow, who alleges the 78-year-old violently tackled her to the ground just 1 week before his death.

The woman behind the suit is Cheryl Castillo -- who claims she and Bernie lived together in L.A. as husband and wife ... but things went south during an altercation on Sept. 10.

According to her lawsuit, Castillo claims she was having an argument with Casey over their cars, when he suddenly grabbed her by the arm and tackled her to the ground "as though [she] was a football player."

Before Casey starred in movies like "Revenge of the Nerds" and "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" -- he was a Pro Bowl wide receiver for the L.A. Rams back in the '60s.

Castillo claims she suffered injuries from the alleged attack and wants Casey's estate to fork over some big money to make things right.

Casey died on Sept. 19 after suffering a stroke. Castillo believes his health conditions affected his mental ability in the last years of his life.

Seems Kyrie Irving and Chantel Jeffries really are a thing -- 'cause the two were spotted on a movie date together on Monday ... and we're told they looked like a couple.

The NBA star and Justin Bieber's ex-girlfriend took in a flick at the iPic in Westwood, CA -- "Incredibles 2" -- and they held hands on the way out of the place.

By the way, the iPic is a seriously fancy joint -- it's got a full wait staff, bar and kitchen menu and they serve you in your seat while you're watching the movie!

The two were reportedly spotted in New York earlier this month -- but it's unclear if they were together or just hanging out.

Jeffries -- a DJ -- has been linked to a bunch of stars, including The Weeknd and DeSean Jackson. She was also famously in the car when Bieber was arrested for his DUI back in 2014.

Irving dated Kehlani back in the day -- but recently came out and said they're still good friends.

Mira Sorvino's echoing the outrage millions of Americans feel about immigrant families being separated at the border, but is hopeful President Trump could really end it ... if he only had a heart.

The Oscar-winning actress was at LAX Wednesday, and told us she's cautiously optimistic about the executive order Trump just signed, reversing the policy he enacted last month. She didn't mince words ... blasting Trump for deliberately making a choice to destroy families' lives.

She's also fed up with politicians and talking heads blaming previous Presidents. Mira puts the blame squarely on 45.

As we reported, the President signed the executive order to keep families together, but made it clear the "zero-tolerance" prosecution of illegal immigrants will continue.

Charlize Theron surprised a boxing champ on his birthday -- threw punches at him and then kissed his face ... and we've got footage of the whole thing!

The man on the receiving end is Chris van Heerden -- a former IBO Welterweight champ who's a BIG fan of the actress (they're both from South Africa).

Peter Berg -- the mega-producer who owns the gym -- wanted to surprise Chris on his birthday so he got Charlize to swing by for a sparring session ... and Chris LOVED IT, Peter Kahn, van Heerden's manager tells us.

Charlize not only got in the ring and threw hands -- she jumped on the fighter, wrapped her legs around the guy ... and capped it off with a big, fat kiss on his face.

Oh, and Mark Wahlberg also stopped by. Best birthday ever?!

By the way, Theron's not a regular at the gym ... but she wasn't bad on the mitts for an amateur.