Work on Will Smith’s “Men in Black 3″ has been temporarily halted amid rumors the star clashed with producers about the script.

The movie, which went into pre-production here last month, has been shut down for a second time because of arguments among Smith, director Barry Sonnenfeld and the producers, sources told Page Six.

While Sony studio bosses blame the delay on a change in New York state movie incentives, a source said,

“‘Men in Black 3′ has gone on hiatus again, this time for two weeks, after having shut down for a week and started back up. Smith, Sonnenfeld and the producers have been fighting. The start date for filming had already been put off.”

The disputes are believed to be about the script for the film, which also stars Tommy Lee Jones and will be released in 3-D.

A Sony Pictures rep denies the story saying, “The only reason production will begin in mid-November as opposed to late October is to take advantage of recent changes affecting New York State film incentives. Suggesting that a disagreement triggered the shift is complete fiction.”

Via Eurweb.com:

The sequels to “Independence Day,” “Independence Day 2″ and “Independence Day 3″ starring Will Smith, just may have a special twist.

An MTV blogger, who interviewed director Ronald Emmerich, wrote that the president of the United States will be Will Smith.

“It’s an alternate reality kind of movie. We pick up the story, what would have happened after this kind of attack?,” Emmerich is quoted as stating. And he goes on to drop these so-called hints:

“Naturally, the alien technology has changed everything.”

“Did they rebuild the White House? Who will be president?”

“Or, who will be president? Who Will be president? See?”

The bottom line is that Will Smith is expected to star in both ID2 and 3. Look for the films in 2012 and 2013 and don’t be surprised if he’s portraying the POTUS in both.

A Brooklyn-based photographer is suing “FELA! on Broadway” for allegedly ripping off a picture that features prominently in the Tony-award winning musical.

Marilyn Nance says her shot of the late musician Fela Kuti’s Nigerian nightclub is being used without permission as part of the production design for the critically acclaimed hit show.

Nance’s Manhattan federal court suit — which seeks $150,000-plus in damages for copyright infringement — alleges that her photo is projected “onto or above” the stage and “effectively serves as the backdrop for the FELA! set.” She claims that the image was displayed during 40 percent of the June 27 performance of FELA!, including the entire 16-minute intermission.

Also, she claims the photo appears in the show’s $10 souvenir program book with a bogus attribution to “Monique Carboni,” as well as in the booklet for the $25 original cast recording CD and a promotional music video, the suit alleges.

FELA! publicist Richard Kornberg called Nance’s suit “without merit,” noting that her shot is of a “public building in Lagos, Nigeria.”