Movies

Adam McKay says fans of "Wicked" may want to see the movie ASAP ... 'cause he worries politicians may try to ban it for it's message.

The Oscar-winning writer and director took to X Monday ... saying the hit film based on the Broadway musical is one of the most radical big budget Hollywood films he's ever seen -- claiming it's "about radicalization in the face of careerism, fascism, propaganda."

He likens the film to other progressive movies -- like "The Bridge on the River Kwai," "The Sound of Music," "The Searchers" and "Citizen Kane."

Justin Baldoni's ex-publicist wants it known she was not part of the alleged plot to smear Blake Lively -- and, in fact, she's now suing the women Blake accused ... claiming they tried to destroy her reputation, too.

Here's the deal ... Stephanie Jones is a big deal celeb publicist, who reps folks like Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Venus Williams and Baldoni ... up until this year, anyway. In the lawsuit she just filed, Jones says her ex-employee Jennifer Abel was assigned to handle Baldoni's publicity, and it was Abel's decision to hire Melissa Nathan, a crisis PR specialist, when the "It Ends With Us" feud was starting to erupt.

Remember, as TMZ first reported, Jennifer and Melissa are the 2 publicists Blake is accusing of launching the smear campaign.

Ryan Reynolds' recent Instagram post mentioned how he didn't particularly feel like putting on the Deadpool suit ... and, while many thought this was a reference to his wife's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, TMZ has learned that isn't the case.

Here's the deal ... in a post to his Instagram story Monday night, Ryan shared a clip dressed up in the Deadpool suit alongside Kidpool, all about raising money for SickKids Foundation.

It's a 90-second-long clip featuring "Wonder Woman" star Lynda Carter -- and it's all for a good cause ... but, on his Instagram story post, he thanked the director for directing this spot "during a time I really didn't feel like putting the suit on."

The "It Ends With Us" cast is now publicly choosing sides in Blake Lively's sexual harassment battle with Justin Baldoni, the film's director.

Brandon Sklenar, who plays Atlas Corrigan in the film, encouraged fans to dig into the full complaint Blake filed against Baldoni ... telling his Instagram followers, "For the love of god read this."

He made it clear he's got Blake's back by tagging her in the IG story, and adding a red heart emoji.

Justin Baldoni is hemorrhaging support among women in the aftermath of Blake Lively’s explosive lawsuit against him -- and he’s now been stripped of an award he won in honor of all females.

Here’s what happened … Baldoni -- who directed “It Ends With Us” and also costarred with Lively in the film -- received the Voices of Solidarity Award from Vital Voices on December 9. The award recognizes remarkable men who show courage and compassion in advocating for women and girls.

But, after Lively filed her lawsuit against Baldoni on Saturday, the organization decided to yank the honor back from the director.

Justin Baldoni is getting back to business after Blake Lively sued him for sexual harassment.

The "It Ends With Us" star and director was spotted in public Monday for the first time since Blake filed her explosive lawsuit against him.

Justin and his wife ventured out in Los Angeles a couple days before the holiday ... dropping off their kids at a relative's house before heading into an office meeting.

Amber Heard is publicly voicing support for Blake Lively and her sexual harassment case against her "It Ends with Us" costar Justin Baldoni ... saying she's been in Blake's shoes.

Heard says, "Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on.’ I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive."

She released that statement Monday to NBC News, because Amber's ex-husband, Johnny Depp, used the same crisis PR team as Baldoni during his 2022 defamation battle with Amber.

Blake Lively's family is coming to her defense days after she sued her "It Ends With Us" costar/director Justin Baldoni in which she alleged a smear campaign was conducted against her after she accused him of sexual harassment during filming.

Bart Johnson, Blake's brother-in-law, took to the comment section of a post on The New York Times’ Instagram on Saturday saying Justin's PR team was "gross and disgusting but highly effective" in their media strategy to allegedly smear Blake's image after she complained of sexual harassment from Baldoni during filming.

Bart added in his comment, "Read the article, their text message exchanges and his PR campaign strategy to bury her by any means necessary. No one is with out [sic] faults. But the public got played."

Blake Lively is receiving support from some of her oldest costars and friends ... America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel have issued a statement amid her "It Ends With Us" lawsuit.

The 3 actresses -- all of whom starred in the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" film franchise with Blake in the '00s and have remained her good friends -- issued a joint statement on Instagram ... where they made it clear they were standing behind BL amid her legal battle.

They wrote ... "Throughout the filming of 'It Ends with Us,' we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice."

Art Evans, an actor best known for his roles in "Die Hard 2" and "Fright Night," has died ... according to his reps.

The film and TV actor died while surrounded by his loved ones on Saturday, his publicist, Erica Huntzinger, confirmed to Variety. While the outlet did not share a cause of death, Deadline reports the actor's rep shared Art passed away due to a battle with diabetes.

Fans will likely best know Art for his work as Barnes in the 1990 follow-up film to "Die Hard," aptly titled "Die Hard 2." Remember, Art's character assists Bruce Willis' John McClane when all hell breaks loose at Dulles International Airport.

Denzel Washington has taken a big step in cementing his faith ... the Oscar winner has recently been baptized and received his minister's license.

Check it out ... the Hollywood star was baptized at the Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ in New York City on Saturday. Dressed in a white robe and burgundy stole adorned with crosses, DW kept his head low as spiritual leaders dunked him into the baptismal water.

Alongside his certificate of baptism, the actor also received his ministry license, which would seemingly designate Denzel with the ability to perform ministerial duties.

Hidden inside this bedazzled winter star is a gorgeous gal who's been singing and dancing since she was just a wee lass ... It's time to get in formation and see if you've got what it takes to nail the unknown celeb!

She rose to mega fame with a group of ladies in the early 2000s. And, selling more than 100 million albums worldwide, she's collaborated with music's hottest stars like Alicia Keys and Lady Gaga.

The sequel to one of her movies dropped earlier this weekend.

Blake Lively's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni also names several public relations professionals ... and, text messages included in the suit allegedly show the lengths to which they went to turn the public against her.

We broke the story ... Lively is suing Baldoni for sexual harassment and what she claims is a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation. In the lawsuit, Blake's attorneys include text messages they recovered via subpoena -- messages they say were sent between Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, two PR pros.

The New York Times published photos of the messages Nathan and Abel allegedly sent to one another ... including one in which they're apparently gloating over their comprehensive takedown of Lively.

10:21 AM PT -- In a statement to TMZ, Blake Lively says ...  "I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”

Blake Lively has declared legal war on her former "It Ends with Us" costar/director Justin Baldoni, laying out her allegations of sexual harassment and what she claims is a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation, but Baldoni's team has fired back calling the allegations a false attempt to rehab her reputation.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, things got so bad during filming, there was an all-hands-on-deck meeting to address what she claims was a hostile work environment. Ryan Reynolds, Blake's husband, was among the attendees.

The lawsuit lists the demands that were addressed ... she says because of Baldoni's conduct. Among those demands -- no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni's alleged previous "pornography addiction," no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew's genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake's weight, and no further mention of Blake's dead father.

Justin Baldoni's agency William Morris Endeavor has severed ties with the embattled actor ... this just hours after Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against him.

Sources with direct knowledge confirmed the news to TMZ after multiple reports surfaced.

While no official reason was provided, it comes after his former costar Lively filed a suit alleging sexual harassment and a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation.

Michael B. Jordan is the latest Celebrity to have an unwanted guest show up at his Los Angeles-area home.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Wednesday afternoon, while Jordan was home, a suspect was seen in his front yard.

Jordan’s security called the LAPD and then escorted the suspect off the property and waited for the cops.