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Tobey Maguire just lost $80,000 by playing poker.

The actor has settled his part in a lawsuit brought against participants in a high-stakes game organized by now-jailed Ponzi schemer Bradley Ruderman, a hedge fund manager who lost millions of his ill-gotten money in celebrity-studded, secret poker get-togethers.

Creditors of Ruderman’s bankrupt company sought to recoup Maguire’s reported $300,000 windfall from these games, arguing that the actor (and nearly two dozen others) had taken money that was never Ruderman’s in the first place.

In new court filings, however, it’s been revealed that Maguire agreed to pay $80,000 in an agreement dated November 18.

A judge has to sign off on the terms next month.

The documents include Maguire’s denial of any knowledge of the Ponzi scheme, as well as his promise not to make any claim on the Ruderman bankruptcy.

In exchange for his payment, Maguire would be released from the continuing litigation against the people said to have profited from illegal gambling with Ruderman.

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Leonardo DiCaprio is such a convincing actor, he can make people think he’s a jewel thief even when he’s not trying.

The owner of a Sydney jewelry shop claims his sales assistant mistook DiCaprio for a robber during a confusing – but amusing – moment earlier this week.

Two of the actor’s burly bodyguards approached the store and kept watch, making the suspicious clerk fear they were casing the joint.

When DiCaprio himself came in wearing a hoodie and dark sunglasses, the sales assistant didn’t recognize him and feared a robbery was underway.

She took precautions, sending someone to alert the store’s owner, who had stepped out for coffee.

“Linda sent the customer next door to get me, thinking the shop is about the be robbed by these guys,” the proprietor tells the Daily Telegraph. “By the time I get in there Linda has realized who she was serving and let me know everything was all right.”

Gossip Cop has reached out to DiCaprio’s rep to verify the store owner’s account.

DiCaprio is in Australia with Tobey Maguire to shoot director Baz Luhrmann‘s The Great Gatsby.

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Tobey Maguire has just filed legal papers, claiming he did NOT play in illegal high-stakes poker games.

As you’ll recall, last week the Spider-Man star was named in a lawsuit against a hedge fund manager named Bradley Ruderman, who’s currently in prison for defrauding investors out of more than $50 million in a Ponzi scheme.

Basically, creditors of Ruderman’s now bankrupt company sought to have Maguire pony up the more than $300,000 he took in winnings from the hedge funder in what were termed “illegal” poker games.

But in Maguire’s court filing today, he says the games were not “illegal.” The games were just pals playing poker — and there was NO “house” taking a cut.

Gossip Cop also hears that though Ruderman’s creditors claim Maguire made more than $300,000 off the hedge funder, in actuality the actor wrote checks in losses to him to the tune of around $168,000.

And, an important point to be made, we’re told Maguire denies he tried, in any way, to defraud anyone — and he always paid taxes on his winnings.

Maguire further asked that the suit against him be dismissed.

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Tobey Maguire is being targeted for hundreds of thousands of dollars allegedly won from a now-jailed Ponzi schemer in illegal high-stakes poker games.

It’s not quite as confusing as it sounds.

A hedge fund manager named Bradley Ruderman is in prison for defrauding investors (a la Bernie Madoff), and his now-bankrupt company has to pay the victims.

According to legal documents, Ruderman used to play in a top-dollar poker game with Maguire and other deep-pocketed gamblers.

Ruderman admits to losing $5.2 million in these games, and claims Maguire personally beat him for more than $300,000 between 2007 and 2008.

Because unlicensed gambling is illegal, the bankruptcy trustees are now attempting to seize Maguire’s “earnings” to help pay Ruderman’s stiffed clients.

Gossip Cop wonders if Maguire’s Spidey sense tingled when staring across the poker table at the villainous Ruderman.

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Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, Tobey Maguire and Sofia Vergara are set to star in The Paperboy, a sexual thriller first developed by Pedro Almodovar and now slated to be directed by Precious director Lee Daniels, who’s also producing the film with Hilary Shor.

Based on the Pete Dexter novel, the story follows reporters in small town Florida investigating the murder of a local sheriff that landed the accused on death row.

Violence, intrigue and a femme fatale are soon involved.

Producers are said to be targeting a summer shoot.

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(HollywoodLife)

Is Blake Lively going to join The Great Gatsby after all?

There are new rumors that the “Gossip Girl” star will wind up in the upcoming remake of the classic story with Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan.

The buzz follows Lively’s inclusion in the Time 100 Most Influential People list, because Baz Luhrmann, who will direct Gatsby, writes the Time piece on Lively.

“This could of course just all be a coincidence,” speculates HollywoodLife, “But it seems like no one should be surprised to see Blake confirmed for the [Gatsby] role of Daisy or Myrtle down the road.”

Actually… no one should expect such a casting.

Lively is not involved in the project.

A source close to Lively tells Gossip Cop that she and Luhrmann are friends – and that his Time 100 praise for her has nothing to do with a possible role in The Great Gatsby.

If HollywoodLife did their research, they would know that Carey Mulligan is playing Daisy Buchanan in the film, while Isla Fisher is in talks to play Tom Buchanan‘s mistress Myrtle.

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Reese Witherspoon and her husband Jim Toth are now honeymooning in the Caribbean.

The newlyweds were spotted in the Central American country of Belize with her kids Ava and Deacon.

According to accounts, they looked like “one happy family” as they visited some of Belize’s attractions.

Witherspoon and Toth tied the knot two weeks ago in front of a star-studded group of guests, including Scarlett Johansson, Sean Penn, Matthew McConaughey,Renee Zellweger, Isla Fisher, Sasha Baron Cohen, Tobey Maguire, Robert Downey, Jr. and Alyssa Milano.

A few days later – right before she jetted off on her honeymoon – Witherspoon was at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, where she was a presenter with Robert Pattinson, her co-star in the upcoming film, Water for Elephants.

Witherspoon is expected back in the U.S. in a few days to further promote Water for Elephants.

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Ben Affleck is reportedly in talks to join The Great Gatsby as Tom Buchanan, husband to Carey Mulligan‘s Daisy Buchanan.

Leonardo DiCaprio is set to play the title role, with Tobey Maguire taking the part of narrator Nick Carraway.

In order to sign on to the project, The Town director Affleck would have to work around his next directing job, a film about the 1979 Iran hostage crisis called Argo.

Scheduling is the biggest obstacle to Affleck’s participation, according to THR.

Baz Luhrmann plans to film the new Gatsby in 3D.

A 1974 adaptation of the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald book starred Robert Redford.

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Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth have wed!

The couple exchanged vows in a 20-minute ceremony at her estate in Ojai, California in front of approximately 125 guests, including Scarlett Johansson, Sean Penn, Matthew McConaughey, Renee Zellweger, Isla Fisher, Sasha Baron Cohen, Tobey Maguire, Robert Downey, Jr. and Alyssa Milano.

The Oscar-winning actress walked down the aisle to “Here Comes The Bride” in a Monique Lhuillier gown.

Witherspoon’s children Ava and Deacon were in the wedding party.

The How Do You Know star began dating Toth, a Hollywood agent, in early 2010, shortly after splitting from Jake Gyllenhaal.

The couple got engaged in late December.

Witherspoon was divorced from Ryan Phillipe in 2008.

Check out PHOTOS of Reese out and about shortly before her wedding!

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(John Schwartzman)

Andrew Garfield is finally a superhero.

Columbia Pictures just released the first picture of the actor in his Spider-Man costume.

Garfield takes over for Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker in the franchise reboot, which also stars Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans. It’s set for release in July 2012.

A larger photo is below.

Are you excited for the new Spidey?

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(John Schwartzman)

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The famous under five (years old) came out to celebrate the third birthday of Nicole Richie and Joel Madden‘s daughter, Harlow.

Yesterday, newlyweds Richie and Madden threw a birthday bash for Harlow at L.A.’s Treehouse Social Club, and a Who’s Who of Hollywood and their kids came out to play.

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale brought sons Kingston and Zuma; Kourtney Kardashian came with Mason; Jessica Alba and Cash Warren had daughter Honor in tow; Ellen Pompeo and husband Chris Ivery showed with little Stella; Tobey Maguire‘s wife, Jennifer Meyer, arrived with their kids Ruby and Otis; and Sara Gilbert made an appearance with daughter Sawyer.

The celebrities and a few non-famous folks and theirs kids played outside in a giant treehouse, as well as did arts and crafts inside the play center.

Harlow’s actual birthday is Tuesday.

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Carey Mulligan has been picked to play Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby.

The Oscar nominee beat out a number of other big name actresses rumored to be up for the role in F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s classic.

Baz Luhrmann, who will direct the new adaptation, has been doing readings of the material with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. It is expected (but not confirmed) that DiCaprio will play Jay Gatsby, with Maguire as Nick Carraway.

There have been no other major cast announcements to this point.

Mia Farrow and Robert Redford starred in the 1974 version.

Deadline.com first reported the news.

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In today’s lineup, Leonardo DiCaprio reads a classic, JK Rowling is honored for creating one, and “Dancing with the Stars” gets a new top pair.

1. Arrest warrant issued for Randy Quaid and his wife. (BBC)

2. LeBron James‘ manager accused of ambushing and robbing teenager. (TMZ)

3. JK Rowling wins award named for legendary fairy tale author. (AP)

4. Brandy knocked Jennifer Grey from the top spot on “Dancing With The Stars.” (People)

5. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire are workshopping The Great Gatsby. (Deadline)

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Although the studio and even Emma Stone‘s own people expected her to grab the the role of Mary Jane Watson in the upcoming Spider-man reboot, she’s instead going to play Peter Parker first love, Gwen Stacy.

The 3D film, due in 2012, will feature Andrew Garfield as the title character.

Actresses including Mia Wasikowska, Dianna Agron, Georgina Haig and Dominique McElligott were rumored to be in competition for the Stacy role, but some now may be considered for Emma Jane Watson.

Kirsten Dunst played Watson in the recent trilogy starring Tobey Maguire as the superhero.

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Andrew Garfield, who was in last year’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, has been tapped to play Spider-Man in the franchise’s fourth installment.

Production begins in December, and is slated to hit theaters July 3, 2012.

Garfield takes over for Tobey Maguire in this 3D relaunch.

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Spidey is going the Avatar route.

Sony plans to release its new Spider-Man movie on July 3, 2012 – in 3D.

As reported earlier, Tobey Maguire and Sam Raimi, the star and director of the last three movies in the series, have been jettisoned. The studio plans to “reboot” the series with the next installment.

A new actor for the title role has yet to be tapped. Marc Webb is set to direct.

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“Lord of the spins,” reads the headline of a story that claims, “Spider-Man actor Tobey Maguire is to star in The Hobbit.”

According to a piece in the UK newspaper, The Sun, which was picked up around the world, Maguire “will play the lead role of Bilbo Baggins in the blockbuster movie version of JRR Tolkein’s classic book,” and “signed up after quitting the Spider-Man franchise.”

The tab breathlessly reports that a source told The Sun that “The Hobbit” team “is over the moon. Tobey is not only one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, he is also one of the best actors.”

Albeit flattering, the Hobbit story is short on facts.

Maguire is not starring in the film. His rep confirmed to Gossip Cop that the story is “false.”

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(PerezHilton.com)

Here we go again.

Dozens of outlets are breathlessly repeating rumors that Robert Pattinson is the leading candidate to replace Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man.

You’ll recall that the story started as an April Fool’s prank later dusted off and published (without context) by the Oh No They Didn’t community. Gossip Cop busted the site and the speculation.

Just a few days ago, though, Sony announced that it would reboot the Spider-Man franchise, letting Maguire and director Sam Raimi go. And once it became clear that there will (eventually) be a new actor in the lead role, blogs anointed Pattinson. Buzz bubbled all the way up to the granddaddy of all cut-and-pasters, Perez Hilton, who trumpets rumors without checking them out.

Gossip Cop needs to step in.

Yes, there will now be a new Spider-Man, but Robert Pattinson is NOT set to take the part.

Pattinson is committed to a busy upcoming slate that includes Bel Ami, Unbound Captives, and a potential Breaking Dawn production. He’s been wrongly linked to projects ranging from X-Men to Yellow Submarine. The Spidey rumor is no more real.

We’ve spoken with sources close to the studio, which now needs to devise a new identity for the franchise, a new timetable, and a new script. Casting is not yet on the radar.

Any outlet stirring Pattinson into the mix does so with zero factual basis.

Gossip Cop will monitor all “Spider-Man” developments.

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(OhNoTheyDidnt)

The aptly named site, OhNoTheyDidnt – actually did!

Today, the blog published as FACT an old April Fool’s Day JOKE that Robert Pattinson was replacing Tobey Maguire in “Spider-Man.”

[Catch your breath from laughter]

According to OhNoTheyDidnt, “The news dropped like a bombshell early this morning that Sony Pictures has signed Robert Pattinson (Twilight) to replace Tobey Maguire in the titular role in Spider-Man 4.”

Wait, it gets more ridiculous.

The site wrote, “In the official press release, [the Sony chairman] announced that Pattinson would not only be assuming the role of Peter Parker and his alter-ego, Spider-Man, in Spider-Man 4, but also in Spider-Man 5 and in a spin-off film to be announced at a later date.”

And OhNoTheyDidnt even “quoted” the film series’ director Sam Raimi as saying, “Decisions like these are always difficult. I know the fans liked Tobey — and I greatly enjoyed working with him – but Robert is the future of the franchise.”

Oh no!!!

Trust us, the site wasn’t joking. Those clowns even Tweeted out the story. (And then had their followers spam us.)

Gossip Cop would like to wish OhNoTheyDidnt a belated Merry Christmas and an even more belated April Fools!

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Since reporting hasn’t worked too well for Star, maybe casting stars in movies will work better.

In the current issue of the tabloid, it’s claimed that Kirsten Dunst‘s Mary Jane character is “getting iced” in the next “Spider-Man” movie, starring Tobey Maguire, and “Anne Hathaway is stepping in.”

According to one of Star‘s sources, “Anne will take over as [Maguire's character's] new love interest for this project and for Spider-man 5 and 6, which are being written now.” The mag adds Maguire and Hathaway are “thrilled.”

Not so fast.

Hathaway’s rep tells Gossip Cop, “It’s not accurate – there is no deal in place for her to be in [Spider-Man 4].” In fact, we’re told the “script is not ready” and until it’s completed there won’t be any negotiations with Hathaway.

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Tobey Maguire and his wife Jennifer Meyer, who already have two children, are looking to expand their family, reports In Touch magazine in an article titled, “Tobey’s Plan to Adopt.”

According to In Touch, which routinely steals Gossip Cop’s corrections of equally off-base stories from Us Weekly, “The couple have (sic) confided to friends that they’re thinking about adopting a baby from overseas.”

The rag even has a so-called “friend” of the pair quoted as saying, “They’re amazing parents and believe in adoption.”

And while Gossip Cop can confirm they are good parents, the rest is wrong. A rep for Maguire also noted that In Touch’s story is “not true.”

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Newly unattached Kate Hudson hosted a holiday bash for her famous friends on Friday night, and noticeably absent was ex-boyfriend Alex Rodriguez.

While A-Rod remained in Miami, Hudson’s party took place at her Los Angeles home, which was festively decked out with Christmas lights.

So which big-name celebs were greeted at the party by parking attendants dressed like Santa?

Among those at the “Nine” star’s bash were Tobey Maguire, Fergie and Josh Duhamel, Liv Tyler, Kate Beckinsale, and her famous folks Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.

Gossip Cop hears the party went late, and that Hudson looked like she was having fun.

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A casting rumor everywhere this morning put two of Hollywood’s biggest names in the mix with one of its legendary productions.

First speculated on CHUD.com, the buzz has Leonardo DiCaprio and friend Tobey Maguire possibly starring in a remake of the classic thriller “The Third Man.” The film centers on the mysterious and dangerous Harry Lime, played by Orson Welles in the original. Countless blogs picked up the story, although the rumored project has no director attached.

Well, movie fans – whether worried or excited by the prospect – can cross off at least one A-lister. A source close to DiCaprio tells Gossip Cop his rumored participation is “not true.” We’ll keep an eye on Maguire and any other names that pop up.