Movies

Jennifer Lopez is at the center of a pretty cheesy war between her current BF and her ex-fiance Alex Rodriguez, who got trolled with a symbolic chicken pizza order ... TMZ has learned.

So, here's the deal ... a certain someone named Ben hit up the Florida-based online pizza joint Bulls Bears & Squares, and plunked down $141.32 to send some pies to A-Rod back on June 17.

It's unclear exactly how many pizzas were ordered, but the joint's owner, Samuel Tadros, confirms the only topping requested was chicken. He says their Chicago stuffed jalapeño ranch chicken deep dish pizza is one of the most popular, and they don't come cheap -- $140 will get ya about 3 pies when you add shipping costs!!!

Anyway, back to the trolling culprit -- Bulls Bears & Squares tells us the Ben who ordered gave his name as "Ben Afflec." We're not thinking J Lo's Ben Affleck was actually responsible ... why would he use his real name, minus one letter?

But, it's clear some prankster got a kick out of sending the pizzas to A-Rod's 9,200-sq.-ft. summer pad in the Hamptons -- and possibly making him think Ben and J Lo were messing with him.

BTW, the troll knew the correct home address for Alex's rented mansion ... so, they did their homework.

One thing they screwed up was ... no note with the pizza delivery! So, it's hard to say exactly what the troll was insinuating with the topping. Calling A-Rod a chicken, perhaps, but about what??? 🤷🏽‍♂️

California native Charlyne Yi was only 21 years old when they took on the break-through role as the super-stoney roommate Jodi -- who hilariously has no idea how in utero feeding works -- in the classic 2007 Judd Apatow comedy "Knocked Up."

There was a whole host of big-named actors in the pregnant picture including Katherine Heigl as the hard-working mother-to-be, Alison Scott ... and of course, Seth Rogen as the weed-loving degenerate turned positive parent, Ben Stone.

Charlyne continues to make art on and off the screen and has a long list of credits for their voiceover work on animated projects.

Halle Berry is getting dragged into the legal ring by a former UFC fighter ... Cat Zingano is suing, claiming Halle offered her a movie role but was ultimately snubbed.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Cat claims she met with Halle back in July, 2019 to talk about a movie HB was directing, "Bruised," and says Halle told her she was perfect for the project.

Cat claims Halle told her to keep her schedule clear because film production was on the horizon, but she says the UFC came calling soon thereafter with a big fight offer.

In the docs, Cat claims she talked to Halle about the fight offer and claims Halle advised she pass on the fight if she wanted to be in the film, citing liability concerns from the movie's insurer.

Cat claims she agonized over the decision -- the movie versus the big fight -- and says she ultimately turned down the fight.  She says the UFC then released her from her contract.

According to the suit, Cat claims she looped Halle in on her decision not to fight and her subsequent release from the UFC, and says she was shocked and dismayed when Halle told her she could no longer be involved in the movie because she was no longer fighting in the UFC. She claims she was told the movie could only work with UFC fighters.

Cat -- who's currently a Bellator fighter -- claims Halle has cut off all communications from her. She's suing for damages, claiming she relied on Halle’s promise and ended up getting screwed.

Johnny Depp has addressed the elephant in the room -- which is that he's seen as a pariah in Hollywood now ... something that isn't lost on him, and which he seems to think is BS.

The embattled actor sat for an interview with the Sunday Times -- to promote his new movie, "Minamata" -- and he opened up about what he perceives as a de facto ousting from the biz, while also vowing to shed more light on the "truth" and thanking fans for sticking with him.

Johnny is quoted as saying that he feels like those who got on board late for his latest flick owe the real-life Japanese mercury poison survivors on which it's based fairness in its release -- the film's only being released in the UK, for now. A U.S. release date hasn't been set.

The distributors, MGM, have been accused of shelving it over JD's legal issues -- an alleged reaction to which Depp says ... "And for anything ... for Hollywood’s boycott of me? One man, one actor in an unpleasant and messy situation, over the last number of years?"

On that topic, he goes on to say that he's "moving towards where I need to go to make all that … to bring things to light." Sounds like he's talking about his acrimonious case against Amber Heard here in the U.S. -- the one he still has a fighting chance to win (maybe).

Remember ... he already lost a libel case over his tumultuous relationship with Heard across the pond somewhat recently, when he sued The Sun over a headline they ran that called him a "wife beater" -- something a judge there found to be true in a ruling against him.

Depp lost (again) in an appeal in that case ... and the book is closed there. The legal battle wages on, though, here at home as he continues to press the issue in a U.S. court -- going after Amber herself for outright defamation. She, in turn, has countersued him ... for a lot.

With that said, Johnny made sure to shoutout his loyal fans in this interview ... because he says they're the ones who are on the right side of history, calling them his true "employers." He adds, "I'm proud of these people, because of what they are trying to say, which is the truth. The truth they're trying to get out since it doesn't in more mainstream publications."

Ben Affleck is turning 49 today, and before he gets into whatever Jennifer Lopez has in store for him ... it seems he wanted some QT with his kiddos, without her on his arm.

BA was spotted out Sunday with his three children in tow -- Violet, Samuel and Seraphina -- while they were apparently visiting a friend in L.A. It's just dad and the young ones here ... no sign of Jen or any of her brood tagging along. Ditto for his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner.

It's interesting to see Ben without the former tied to his hip on his most special of days -- considering they've been doing just that with all their other outings lately, plus workplace drop-ins. Frankly, we figured it'd be a no-brainer to see her with him early and often on his bday.

Not the case, though, it seems. Maybe Ben's compartmentalizing, and splitting up his time. Family first, love life second. Oddly enough, there's no bday shout-out from Jen yet either.

The only thing she has up on her Story today is a goofy solo selfie -- definitely not the same type of attention/treatment she gave herself a few weeks ago for the big 5-2, which had Ben's fingerprints all over the celebration. On the other hand, he is a low-key dude generally (no IG or anything) ... so, maybe the non-acknowledgment is at his behest? 🤷🏽‍♂️

While JL might not be giving him bday props just yet, Ben's old director pal, Zack Snyder, sure has ... he posted a born day tribute with some never-before-seen photos of BA as Batman -- and it's got DC fans buzzing and clamoring for more Snyder-verse content.

Zack threw up the throwback pic on Vero, showing a test batsuit he was having Ben try on at the time -- which was apparently back in 2013, before they started filming 'Batman v Superman.' Your boy looked as good then as he does now some 8 years later.

Anyway, happy birthday, big fella. And, here's hoping a surprise is waiting for ya before the night's out!

The star of Marvel's new superhero movie took offense to Disney calling it an "experiment" -- and now, his anger has roped in "Black Panther" comparisons ... and a larger convo on race.

Actor Simu Liu fired off a scorching tweet Saturday AM that seemed to be in direct response to what CEO, Bob Chapek, had said a few days earlier about the release of "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" during an earnings call with investors.

Chapek was commenting on the fact 'Shang-Chi' -- unlike other Disney theatrical releases this year -- would get an exclusive 45-day window in theaters, as opposed to being released to Disney+ at the same time like other 2021 offerings ... which he said would make for an interesting "experiment" to see how it shakes out at the box office amid the pandemic.

Nothing derogatory about that on its face, it would seem, but Liu didn't take too kindly to the word choice ... 'cause he insists he and others who worked on the film -- other Asian actors, specifically, it appears -- are not part of whatever test Chapek and co. wanna run.

Liu writes, "We are not an experiment. We are the underdog; the underestimated. We are the ceiling-breakers. We are the celebration of culture and joy that will persevere after an embattled year. We are the surprise." He adds, "I'm fired the f*** up to make history on September 3rd; JOIN US."

Sounds like Liu might've misconstrued what Chapek was getting at ... but his interpretation of the remark might also speak to what fans have perceived about the marketing efforts and enthusiasm over the flick ... or a lack thereof, as some alleged in the days ahead of this blowup.

Some fans who are stoked about getting a first-ever Asian-led Marvel superhero film are sour over the lack of attention in the lead-up to its release, and/or possible box office numbers this movie may or may not generate ... with "Black Panther" juxtapositions springing up as a result. That, in turn, has led to debates over what that thinking actually means.

Others suggest that bringing up 'BP' to gripe about a lack of hype around 'Shang Chi' is actually counterintuitive to inclusivity as a whole ... and some have gone as far as to call it anti-Black. Kinda like bringing something else down just to bring yourself up type of a vibe.

There's a lot of layers to this one, but the point many are making is ... why can't we all eat without taking food out of another's mouth? Also, movie releases in 2021 can't really be compared to big ticket blockbusters of years past. It's a weird year with its own scorecard.

Michael B. Jordan was recently compared to Denzel Washington -- and after much internet debate ... the man himself has weighed in himself to us on camera.

We got the movie star Friday night while leaving Catch in WeHo, and asked him what he made of people suggesting he's the next DW of his generation. Mike played it cool and humble ... saying the great Denzel is his "mentor," and saying it's all love between them.

That doesn't really answer the question, frankly, but it's a polished response he seems to have had ready -- which is fine. And, perhaps his resistance to stack himself up against Mr. Washington speaks volumes in and of itself.

ICYMI, MBJ and Denzel were both trending earlier this week after a Twitter user openly asked folks if Mike was the next Denzel of this day and age ... and his question was met with fiery responses, mostly disagreement. Of course, the jokes flew at Mike's expense too.

The consensus online seems to be ... hell no -- Michael's no Denzel, not even by a long shot. Some have pointed out that the dude seems to be more of a good-looking A-lister type instead of someone with spectacular chops, per se. Fair point ... he hasn't been nominated for too many prestigious solo acting awards in his career -- at least not yet, anyway.

Maybe that can change, though, because it seems he and Denzel might've gotten pretty close on the set of the latter's new flick, which has MBJ as the lead. It's called "A Journal for Jordan" ... and it's all about a war vet who leaves behind love letters for his kid.

Ben Affleck's doing one helluva job getting all up in Jennifer Lopez's business ... he spent HOURS on the set of her new film and got really involved.

Ben showed up at an L.A. studio Wednesday ahead of J Lo and spent around 4 1/2 hours on the set... where he mingled with the crew. He was wearing an earpiece commonly used on film sets. It's unclear if he was giving anyone notes or if he was just an observer.

J Lo's longtime manager, Benny Medina, was also at the studio ... makes sense, because Benny is almost always by J Lo's side when she's working.

Ben and Jen clearly worked up an appetite after a long day on the set 'cause, as we reported, they later hit up Craig's in WeHo with Jen's 13-year-old daughter, Emme.

You can maybe call the dinner an early birthday celebration. Ben turns 49 on Sunday. We're told he'll first do something with his kids and then celebrate with J Lo. We've heard rumblings ... it could involve an out-of-town trip.

The MLB's Field Of Dreams replica officially has Ray Kinsella's stamp of approval ... 'cause Kevin Costner visited it this week and GUSHED over the ballpark, calling it "perfect."

Costner -- who played Kinsella in the 1989 classic baseball movie -- got a tour of the Dyersville, Iowa field just before the Yanks and the White Sox play there Thursday night, and his reaction was awesome.

The 66-year-old walked through the bleachers and stepped on the infield grass ... and was astonished, looking around in bewilderment at how the MLB made the fictional field come to life for an actual game.

"Wow," Costner said. "Feels perfect. Every bit of it."

Of course, the endorsement is big for the MLB ... 'cause if anyone knows what the Field of Dreams is supposed to look like, it's Costner.

The actor absolutely crushed the role as Kinsella more than 3 decades ago ... helping make the movie and the line "If you build it, he will come" a piece of American history.

As for baseball players ... they're loving the idea of the park and the game too -- with Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz fawning over it all on their visit there this week.

Joel Kinnaman is being investigated by Swedish authorities for allegedly raping a woman -- a probe that's in its early stages -- but Kinnaman insists there's no truth to it.

The actor is now the subject of a criminal investigation ... prosecutors in Sweden announced Wednesday they were looking into a claim of rape that we're told is related to the recent restraining order Joel got against the woman ... who he claims is extorting him.

A rep for Kinnaman tells us the woman only went to police after he got the restraining order.

The Public Prosecutor's Office notes an actor had been reported to local authorities for an alleged rape, and their investigation is now in its infancy.

Joel, for his part, has made it quite clear what he thinks this is really all about. He says the accuser is Gabriella Magnusson ... a Swedish model he hooked up with a couple times back in 2018 ... who then allegedly started blowing him up when he cut off contact.

He claims she began threatening to go public with false claims -- specifically, that he had sex with her against her will -- unless he met her demands.

Joel's detailed the alleged demands ... saying she asked for money, biz connections, a work visa and more. He says he refused to get shaken down ... adding that his agent went to meet Gabriella, and her brother allegedly pointed a gun at him.

His spokesperson tells TMZ Kinnaman has also filed a police complaint in Sweden against her. We're told Kinnaman and co. think she only went to cops after he got the restraining order against her.

Christina Ricci is getting ready to welcome a little bundle of joy, and the timing of her pregnancy announcement is interesting ... as it comes immediately on the heels of her finishing up a nasty divorce.

The "Casper" and 'Addams Family' star shared a photo of her ultrasound Tuesday ... and the image makes it seem like she's pretty far along. Disclaimer: we're not doctors.

Christina's clearly thrilled to be expecting her second child ... saying, "Life keeps getting better."

What she didn't say -- not that she has to, either -- is who the expectant daddy is.

We're not at all connecting any dots here, but Christina's hairstylist Mark Hampton also posted images of her ultrasound with the same caption she did. Could just be a very supportive friend.

Anyway, the pregnancy comes after Christina filed to divorce film producer James Heerdegen after nearly 7 years of marriage, and their split was contentious.

TMZ broke the story ... Christina got a domestic violence restraining order against Heerdegen after filing divorce docs ... claiming he beat her and terrorized her during the COVID lockdown.

Christina Applegate is sharing devastating news ... she has multiple sclerosis.

The actress revealed the news Monday night saying, "A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. It's been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition."

The "Married... with Children" star added, "It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some asshole blocks it." In a separate tweet, Christina said she has a friend who has MS ... for which there is no cure. The autoimmune disease starts with the body's immune system attacking its own tissues.

Selma Blair, who also has MS, told us back in 2019 how she's adapted to life since the diagnosis. She continued acting and was a huge inspiration to others. Some of her treatments included chemo and a stem cell transplant.

Paul Walker's only child, Meadow, is now engaged nearly 8 years after his death.

The 22-year-old model made the announcement not-so-subtly on IG Monday with a quick, fun video of her in a pool somewhere in the desert. She flashes the giant rock on that finger ... and flirtatiously floats away from the cameraman, presumably her fiancé.

That would be one Louis Thornton-Allan -- apparently an actor himself -- whom she just went Instagram official with last month. It's unclear how long they've been romantically involved before that ... but in any case, it looks like they're ready to walk down the aisle together.

Besides the obvious celebratory sentiment, the other feeling here is ... man, does time fly. It seems just like yesterday when she was 14, right around the time her dad tragically died in a car accident in 2013.

Of course, they were close ... and Paul's death was hard on Meadow. But, she's carried on well -- and has even shown up to a few of 'Fast & Furious' premieres since his passing. She continues to hype up PW's legacy to this day ... always promoting 'Fast' content, too.

BTW, Louis seems to have popped the question here on a special day in and of itself -- seems today's the birthday of a family member of his ... possibly his pops, 'cause he gave him a shoutout online -- in addition to posting more about his and Meadow's baecation.

Richard Donner -- the legendary director of "Superman," "Lethal Weapon" and many other famous films -- suffered from heart disease and died of heart failure ... according to his death certificate.

The document says Donner died at his home in West Hollywood on the morning of July 5, and the immediate cause of death is listed as cardiopulmonary failure.

The death certificate lists atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease as an underlying cause of his passing, as well.

On a lighter note ... according to the document, Donner was a film director for 65 years, meaning he started his iconic career in the late '50s.

As we told you ... Donner was one of the most beloved figures in Hollywood who got his big break with 1976's "The Omen," which led to the 'Superman' and 'Lethal Weapon' franchises.

He's also known for flicks like "Ladyhawke," "The Goonies," "Scrooged" and "Conspiracy Theory."

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck aren't shying away from their love here in La La Land -- as if their big date night on Saturday wasn't enough ... here's more evidence from the day after.

Check out these photos TMZ obtained of Bennifer holding hands for a romantic stroll on the beach late Sunday afternoon ... one that's kinda tucked away in Malibu near Paradise Cove, below what we're told seemed to be a private home (perhaps one of theirs, or a pal's even).

Unclear who exactly the guy third-wheeling with them was, but eyewitnesses tell us he seemed to be part of their crew as they took a walk to remember. We *think* that looks like someone we recognize -- and who Ben certainly recognizes too. That you, Matt Damon???

Anyway, we're told the couple stopped and chatted with a few others along the way, and then the trio made their way up some stairs.

Feels like Ben and Jen might've wanted to get away from paps, as there didn't appear to be any in sight here -- unfortunately, they're just too damn famous and hot not to notice. Sorry guys!

Still ... it's a pretty romantic outing, even away from the public eye so to speak -- which speaks volumes about where they are right now (aka, head over heels in love). Remember, they'd just hit the town the night prior in a big "we're here" type of way.

Before the big Bev Hills debut, they'd only been seen getting publicly affectionate on their Euro vacay -- but after this, something tells us we're gonna see a lot more Ben/Jen PDA.

The more the merrier, we say. ❤️

Racquel Palmer went from desperately pleading for Tyler Perry's attention to starring in one of his shows ... but she doesn't recommend her billboard tactics to others.

The actress, famous for putting up a billboard to try and catch Tyler's attention, tells TMZ ... she has now landed a leading role in Tyler Perry's upcoming show, "All The Queen's Men," but they've never talked about the billboard and almost pretended like it never happened.

Remember ... the billboard went up back in 2019 and the stunt helped Racquel land an audition with Tyler.

Tyler kinda scolded her for the stunt, but it sounds like it's all out of sight and out of mind now ... and even though it worked out in the end, Racquel tells us aspiring actors shouldn't try and duplicate her actions.

These days, Racquel says the billboard wasn't as much of a pitch to Tyler as it was a message to her children about perseverance and never giving up on your dreams.