Jeremy Renner Critically Injured in Snowplowing Accident

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Jeremy Renner was seriously injured during a snowplowing accident at a Nevada ski resort -- and had to be airlifted to a hospital.

The two-time Oscar-nominated actor was in "critical but stable condition with injuries suffered after experiencing a weather-related accident while plowing snow earlier [Sunday],” a rep told Deadline.

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BEFORE THE ACCIDENT

The rep says Jeremy's receiving excellent care, but would not disclose details about the accident or the injuries.

Renner has a house in the Mount Rose Ski Tahoe resort near Reno, which got slammed by a snowstorm on New Year's Eve. Thousands of homes in the area apparently lost power ... it's not clear if Jeremy's house was also impacted.

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As you probably know, Renner was nominated for an Academy Award in 2010 for his performance in the film, "The Hurt Locker." The following year ... he got another Oscar nom for his role in "The Town." He has also starred in countless other movies, including "The Avengers" and "Captain America: Civil War."

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RENNER RUSHED TO HOSPITAL

The injury was described as "traumatic."

Mekhi Phifer They'll Never Be an '8 Mile' Sequel ... Leave Classics Alone!!!

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Mekhi Phifer has some bad news for "8 Mile" fans, on the heels of the flick's platinum anniversary -- don't waste time looking for a sequel, ''cause it ain't happening!!!

We caught up with the "8 Mile" star shortly after the classic film marked its 20th anniversary ... and we had to ask if there was anything in the works for a new story related to the OG characters.

Mekhi tells TMZ Hip Hop ... there will never be a follow-up to the film, as far as he's concerned. He says, sometimes it's best to leave the classics alone ... adding there's never been any convo about making one happen.

Now, he does acknowledge a sequel could be interesting -- just story-wise -- but he says he wouldn't want to be in it, and he doubts his costar Eminem would be a part of it either.

As far as their relationship goes ... he says they're still pals and they keep in touch. He adds, Em is focusing more on his music right now, so that's another reason they won't be returning to 8 Mile Road.

Since the film dropped in November 2002, Eminem's music career's had its ups and downs, but he's still widely recognized as a hip hop icon ... and he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year.

As for getting back into movies -- well, he's already got an Oscar, which he won for the "8 Mile" anthem, "Lose Yourself."

'Emily in Paris' Star Lucien Laviscount in Play as Next Bond ... So Says New Report

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From Mr. Paris to Mr. Bond -- that seems to be the trajectory Lucien Laviscount might be on ... if you believe the reports that he's in the running as the next 007.

The British actor -- famous for his recurring role on Netflix's 'Emily in Paris' -- is said to have captured the attention of movie producer Barbara Broccoli ... who also holds the rights to the James Bond franchise, and who's in search of a new agent to replace Daniel Craig.

According to the Daily Mail ... his work in 'EIP' -- where he plays the main character's love interest, Alfie -- is what landed him as a frontrunner for the job. He's been on for 2 seasons.

DM cites one purported insider as saying, "Lucien ticks all of the boxes. He is a super talented actor, is extremely handsome and in the past 18 months has won lots of new fans since he joined Emily In Paris. Bond bosses are already saying how you can see him in the 007 tuxedo, how dapper and fitting to the role he will look."

The thing that might hurt him, apparently ... his time on 'Celebrity Big Brother,' on which he competed in 2011. According to this source, the Bond producers think it's low brow stuff not fitting of a Bond actor, even though they're supposedly still pretty high on him in general.

The other interesting tidbit coming out of this report ... Broccoli is said to have greenlit stunt work testing over at Pinewood Studios, where they've shot a lot of Bond content. If true, that would mean they're ramping up to start the next chapter post-Craig/'No Time to Die.'

There'd been rumblings that Idris Elba was being considered to play the next Bond, but frankly ... he's too old, and Lucien fits the bill for what Broccoli and co. have recently said they want in their next iteration of the character. A young whippersnapper, that is.

We'll say this ... Lucien's definitely got the look down. Handsome, fit and natural elegance. All the right stuff that makes Bond an international heartthrob.

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Here's hoping the Bond honchos figure it out sooner than later. The gap between Pierce Brosnan and Craig (4 years) was longer than any period from previous actors -- meaning, when one guy left ... the other slid in rather seamlessly in a matter of a year or two.

'No Time to Die' came out over a year ago, and we're already on to 2023. Let's move it!

Ice Cube I'm Never Giving Up On 'Friday!!!'

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Ice Cube says he's never giving up on the fight to obtain the rights to his beloved "Friday" franchise -- but won't go to court to get the job done.

TMZ Hip Hop recently caught the legendary rapper outside of Dash Radio, asking him about his struggle to own "Friday" and about any potential spin-off opportunities for the franchise.

Cube, clearly amused by the question, reminded us the contracts he's got with Warner Bros for the film have a ton of fine print -- including that using the same characters in any capacity on a new project wouldn't fly.

Cube has been pushing to get the rights back from WB for years now ... and it's been an uphill battle. Several original cast members like Tommy Lister Jr. and Anthony Johnson have passed away and Cube recently scoffed at the suggestion from Mike Tyson to buy his own rights back.

Cube says he's not interested in taking WB to court over the issue, but thinks the movie giant should just pass on the rights so he can resume the franchise.

Angela Bassett 16-Y-O Son Pranks Her Fake Michael B. Jordan Death?!?

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9:47 AM PT -- 1/1/23 -- Slater has issued an apology online.

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He said sorry to both his mom, Michael B. and anyone else affected.

Angela Bassett's son pulled a pretty mean prank on his mom to cap off the year -- telling her Michael B. Jordan had just died (not true) ... but he realized it wasn't a good idea.

The actress' 16-year-old, Slater, posted a since-deleted video to his TikTok account this weekend ... a quick 20-second clip showing him break some would-be tragic news to AB -- namely, that another one of her "Black Panther" costars had passed away.

He's obviously trying to get a crazy reaction out of Angela, and boy does he get it ... you see his mom freaking out, saying "no" repeatedly as she approaches to see what he's seeing.

It sounds like Slater might've said he was joking in the clip, and we don't get to see what Angela's reaction is once she realizes the death story is fake. But, we imagine it wasn't great ... because, like we said, Slater took the video down -- but he's getting dragged regardless.

His video was captured by folks and is spreading like wildfire on social media ... and the consensus seems to be -- dude, how could you do that to your mom?!? Even as a prank.

Of course, Angela has already experienced tremendous loss on this front with the passing of Chadwick Boseman. As everyone knows, both Chadwick and Michael starred in the original "Black Panther" ... and the latter made a cameo in the recent sequel. So, they're all tight.

Neither Angela nor Slater have addressed the joke-gone-wrong since it went up. But, in light of the backlash, it's probably best to leave these fake death announcements in 2022.

Lord knows we already got our fair share of real deaths this year, especially in these last few days. Considering everything the 'BP' family has gone through, something like this would be way too much.

A valuable lesson learned, indeed.

Originally Published 12/31/22 1:45 PM PT

Leslie Jordan Leslie's First Home Purchase is a Hot Commodity

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Leslie Jordan fans are eager to get their hands on the place he was just about to call home ... hoping to buy the new condo he purchased right before he died.

The condo was listed a few weeks ago, and fans have been flocking to the property ... so says Eric Ronjoy, the listing agent. He says some fans are even reaching out just to tour!

We're told some folks inquiring about the pad are self-proclaimed Leslie Jordan fans ... who feel a connection to the property since he bought it right before he passed and would have been the first property he ever owned.

Eric tells us ... out of 30 groups who have recently toured, half are lookie-loos who just wanted to see where Leslie was planning to live. Others are people interested in purchasing. One potential buyer even toyed with the idea of turning the condo into a Leslie Jordan memorial.

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Some of you might remember the heartwarming video he posted back in August ... and he was over the moon about his new home.

TMZ broke the story ... Leslie died in October after suffering a medical emergency ... crashing his BMW into the side of a building.

In addition to the Leslie Jordan hook, the 2-bedroom pad has a lot of cool amenities ... including a rooftop pool, tennis court, gym and a balcony.

Before he died, Ronjoy says LJ ordered around $500K worth of new furniture. Fortunately, the purchases were canceled after he passed.

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HEALTH CONCERNS PRIOR TO CRASH

So far, no one has made an offer ... but with all the interest, it should only be a matter of time.

'Forrest Gump' Actor Bob Penny Dead at 87 In Alabama

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Actor Bob Penny, who scored minor roles in the films "Forrest Gump" and "Sweet Home Alabama," has died.

Bob passed away in Huntsville, Alabama on Christmas Day, according to an online obit from Laughlin Service Funeral Home. His cause of death was not disclosed.

Penny was a bit part actor in dozens of films and TV shows during his long career stretching back to the '80s. Some of his movie credits include, “Mississippi Burning,” “My Cousin Vinny” and “The Legend of Bagger Vance." He played a “crony” in “Forrest Gump,” and a bumbling, small-town lawyer in “Sweet Home Alabama." He also landed a role in the TV series “In the Heat of the Night.”

He began his acting career doing TV commercials for a local department store and ad campaigns for The United Way.

Bob was 87.

RIP

Mark Wahlberg Hits The Beach & The Weight Room During Barbados Vacation

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Mark Wahlberg is all sun, smiles and muscles this holiday season -- hitting the beach with his family in tow.

Mark and his wife, Rhea Durham, were spotted in Barbados this week getting a little rest and relaxation before hitting the water to cool off. The two seem to be recharging before 2023 -- and what better spot to do it than on the Caribbean island.

Always a health junkie, the 51-year-old recently revealed he's altered his workout routine ... now waking up at 2:30 in the morning instead of 3:30 to complete his daily exercise.

No word on if he slows things down at all while on vacation, but judging by his pump on the beach -- it's probably safe to assume a must-have on his hotel amenities list is a solid gym.

UFC's Angela Hill Obama, Netflix Making A Movie About Alien Abduction Of My Grandpa Barney Hill

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UFC fighter Angela Hill's grandfather and wife claimed they were abducted in one of the most famous UFO encounters ever, and now Barack Obama and his production company are making a Netflix movie on the notorious incident.

And, Angela tells us she wants to be a part of the project!

If you're not familiar, Barney and Betty Hill claimed they were both abducted by extraterrestrials in a rural area of New Hampshire in mid-September 1961. The incident called the "Hill Abduction," was the first widely publicized abduction.

The Hills said they were driving when they witnessed a flying saucer-type object with humanoid figures inside, watching them ... which eventually shot some sort of light at their vehicle. They came to two hours later, 35 miles away from their last known location and with little recollection of anything that occurred.

Now, Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions is reportedly creating a movie titled "White Mountain" that's based on the encounter.

We asked Hill, who posted on social media earlier in the week about her desire to be a part of the project, if any reps for the former president or anyone else had reached out.

"No, no. I just put it out there because it's not the first thing I've heard," Angela said, adding, "Ever since they released those documents, the UFO documents that they were hiding for so long, ever since that, I think it was about two years ago, I've been seeing a lot of Barney and Betty Hill stuff in production."

37-year-old Hill added ... "It sucks when you see something being produced and it's already greenlit, it's ready to go and you're like man I really wish my family was part of it because we've pretty much been written out of that part of the story. I think it's one of the parts that make it more interesting."

Details outside of the Obama's involvement and name of the project are not yet known.

We also asked Hill what she'd say to the people behind the movie.

"I would say that if you're gonna do a story about the first black man to be abducted by aliens, get the black side of the family to talk about it."

'The Crown' Star Stephen Greif Dead at 78

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Stephen Greif, who played Speaker of the House Sir Bernard Weatherill on Season 4 of "The Crown," has died.

Greif's reps announced his death Monday, but did not disclose the cause.

The British actor's role in the Netflix hit was his most recognized, but he was a working actor for many decades with numerous credits.

Greif appeared in Touchstone Pictures' flick, "Casanova" back in 2005. He was on numerous TV shows, including "Tales of the Unexpected," and he appeared in the '70s science fiction series, "Blake's 7."

He was also a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company back in the '60s.

His fellow actors took to social media in droves honoring him, one calling Greif "a consummate professional and an absolute gent."

He's survived by 2 sons.

Stephen Greif was 78.

RIP

Margot Robbie Latest Movie 'Babylon' Bombs ... 2nd Flop This Year

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Margot Robbie's latest film bombed at the box office, marking the second such flop she's been in this year ... both of which were huge ensemble numbers with top A-list talent.

Of course, we're talking about 'Babylon' -- which hit theaters this holiday weekend ... and only raked in a meager $3.5 million domestically through Sunday, with an estimated $5.3 mil expected to come in through Monday. Either way ... it's not a good turnout whatsoever.

The movie -- which is about old Hollywood and the emergence of "talkies" -- had massive star power attached to the credits ... in addition to Margot as the lead, it also featured Brad Pitt, Tobey Maguire, Olivia Wilde, Chloe Fineman, Eric Roberts, Flea, Max Minghella, etc.

Plus, there's the director -- Damien Chazelle -- who's an Oscar winner ... and with a somewhat hefty budget of $80 million (and a lot of marketing) it's unclear why this one didn't do well with moviegoers this holiday season. The mixed reviews probably didn't help.

Interestingly, there's another movie Margot was a part of earlier this fall that had very similar vibes -- another star-studded lineup (Christian Bale, Robert De Niro, Rami Malek, Taylor Swift, etc.) that came together for 'Amsterdam' ... which also flamed out in theaters.

It only made about $6.4M during its opening weekend in Oct., and went on to collect just $16M or so domestically overall -- this after yet another $80 mil budget spent to make it.

Bit of a tough year for Margot on the film front -- not only were things meh at the box office ... but she also said the 'Pirates' movie she was attached to had been killed by Disney -- even though one of the producers for the franchise insisted that's not quite the case.

She's got a lot on the horizon for 2023, though -- MR's already set to star in 'Barbie', as well as a Wes Anderson flick, 'Asteroid City,' ... not to mention her own 'Ocean's Eleven' prequel. The only (potential) problem ... all of those will have super stacked casts too.

Good luck!

Gwyneth Paltrow Caribbean Christmas ... Daughter Apple Cameos!!!

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The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree -- and in Gwyneth Paltrow's case ... we mean that literally, especially after seeing these shots of them hitting the beach for the holidays.

The actress flew down to Barbados just ahead of Christmas this week, and it seems she and her brood are enjoying a sun-kissed winter season in the Caribbean -- perfect for taking a dip, which she and the rest of the crew did ... 18-year-old Apple Martin included.

GP's one and only daughter was tagging along with mom ... and just like Gwyneth, Apple was also rocking a two-piece bikini for their splash-fest in the water.

Gotta say ... both Gwyneth and Apple look really good, from the front and the back! Definitely better than what a lot of us can say around this time of the year -- when the eggnog is flowing and the stuffed turkey is making its way around nonstop.

Now, there were other people in their group that we can't quite identify -- including an older man who was with them, but definitely wasn't GP's hubby, Brad Falchuck. It might be grandpa or something ... but in any case, it looks like a sweet vacation getaway.

Escape from L.A., indeed.

Decembeards Are These Celebs Better Fuzzed Or Buzzed?

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We've all heard of No Shave November, but this 'Decembeard,' we take a look at some of your fave stars and ask ... are they better off with a buzz or a little fuzz?

Fans might remember Jonah Hill with no facial hair, but things have certainly changed. He's been rockin' a full-blown blonde beard ... you be the judge!

Up next is Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino ... he's grown a ton of hair and he's also been really bare.

We gotta know ... is he better buzzed or fuzzed?

Of course we've gotta ask about "Queer Eye" star Jonathan Van Ness. He's had a head full of hair for as long as we can remember ... as far as hair on the face, which look's your favorite?

Either way, they can clearly pull off either ... so there's really no wrong answer!

ORLANDO BROWN DV Arrest Costs Him Movie Role ... Mental Health Issues???

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Orlando Brown is losing a movie role because of his domestic violence arrest ... a role the alleged victim actually got him.

TMZ broke the story ... the former Disney star was arrested Thursday for misdemeanor domestic violence after cops in Ohio responded to a call about a fight in progress between two men.

Matthew Sanders, the alleged victim, tells TMZ ... he's directing and producing a movie called "Up The Score" and wanted Orlando to be part of it, because he considers OB not only a friend but extremely talented.

Orlando's legal issues have been well documented over the years, and Matthew says Orlando had been living at his home in Ohio since November during preproduction for the movie. We're told there were no major issues until Thursday's incident.

Matthew, who told cops Orlando came at him with a broken-off knife blade and a hammer, believes OB is struggling with a mental illness. He thinks Orlando is at times out of touch with reality, and he's bummed he wasn't able to help Orlando make a movie comeback.

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ORLANDO AT AUDITIONS

Orlando was supposed to have a secondary role in the movie ... a dramedy about a military man who meets someone on social media and leaves his family for this person only to find out they are not who they said they were ... but that's no more.

Matthew tells us Orlando is no longer allowed to live at his house at this point in time and is currently removed from the film.

What's more, Matthew hopes Orlando seeks mental health help and only then would he consider bringing him back on. With filming for the project beginning in January, we're told it's likely not possible for Orlando to be involved.

NYMag's 'Nepo Babies' Company's Prez Is Among The Ranks!!! Says Bono's Daughter

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11:59 AM PT -- Daymond John just weighed in on the "nepo baby" debate ... and he says nepotism works to get people in the door, but it doesn't guarantee success or longevity.

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The way Daymond sees it, as he explained on "TMZ Live," famous and influential parents can get their children a start in different industries, Hollywood included, but those kids have to be up to the task to stick around.

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THINK TWICE, NEPO BABIES...
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Daymond says his own kids are shy to drop his name ... and he says he's made it clear to them he will help them get started with something, but it's up to them to finish the job.

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What's more, Daymond says there are tons of parents in Hollywood whose kids aren't benefitting from nepotism ... and he thinks the writer of the original nepo baby article might be calling in some favors too.

Bono's daughter is clapping back at New York Magazine's owners after putting "nepotism babies" on blast  -- because she says the president of the entire company fits the bill, too.

Actress Eve Hewson, daughter of the U2 frontman, took to Twitter Thursday ... pointing fingers at Vox president Pamela Wasserstein -- who is in charge of New York Mag and Vulture -- saying she's been informed Pamela "is a nepo baby herself. Her dad bought the magazine in 2004."

For those unaware, Pamela was appointed to CEO of New York Media LLC in 2016, years after her pops Bruce passed, before becoming Vox prez ... and Eve -- as well as many online -- are seeing a TON of irony in that.

Nate Jones, the writer of the trending Vulture article, wrote about how "A lot of the children of famous people are not good" ... but Eve played defense online -- saying the company blasted Lily-Rose Depp, for example, just "to get clicks."

FYI -- Eve wasn't among the other "nepo babies" in the article, but they sure as hell have her in their corner!

As we reported ... Lottie Moss, Kate's little sister, didn't defend herself on the subject of nepotism -- she instead embraced it, firing back a simple thought ... life isn't fair.

Originally Published -- 7:33 AM PT

'Triangle Of Sadness' Charlbi Dean Cause Of Death Revealed ... Bacterial Infection & Other Complications

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Actress Charlbi Dean died of a bacterial infection and other complications ... it was announced 4 months after her sudden passing.

The NYC medical examiner released Dean's cause of death Wednesday night, using the more official term, "Bacterial (Capnocytophaga) Sepsis."

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According to the Center For Disease Control, Capnocytophaga is a bacteria spread to people in close contact with dogs and cats, or bitten by the animals. It can cause infections in those with weakened immune systems. Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection, which, if not rapidly treated, can lead to organ failure and death. People was first to report on the cause.

The M.E. tells TMZ ... Dean's death, which was ruled an accident, was complicated by the absence of her spleen, making her more susceptible to the bacterial infection. Fox News reported Dean was involved in a 2009 car crash, leading to the removal of her spleen.

As we reported ... Dean passed away in an NYC hospital after she unexpectedly fell ill back in August. She was only 32 and her career was beginning to take off.

Dean scored a lead role, starring alongside Woody Harrelson in the recently released film, "Triangle of Sadness," which received top honors at the Cannes Film Festival, winning the coveted Palme d'Or award.

Charlbi's other movies included, "Blood in the Water," "Don't Sleep," "An Interview with God," and "Porthole." She was also featured in the CW show, "Black Lightning," where she played, "Syonide," an assassin with bulletproof skin.