If Justin Bieber is looking for a cell, L.A. police are eager to oblige

WE KNOW times are tough for Justin Bieber, but the latest news out of Los Angeles is giving even the cynical staff at Tattle pause:

L.A. police detectives are investigating allegations that the Biebs tried to steal a cellphone at a family entertainment center.

Come on, dude. You can pick up a burner on the street for a few bucks.

Police spokeswoman Rosario Herrera said yesterday that a person accused Bieber of trying to take the phone Monday night at a Sherman Oaks facility that features mini golf, arcades and batting cages.

Police didn't give any other details, which is a shame because Tattle really wants to know if Justin got the ball through the clown's mouth. Herrera says that detectives from the agency's elite Robbery Homicide Division are investigating the allegations.

Huh? An "elite" squad is looking into an alleged cellphone theft? What's the chief of detectives doing, ticketing dogs who poop on the sidewalk?

L.A. prosecutors, meanwhile, are still considering whether to file charges against Bieber over an egg-throwing incident in January that damaged a neighbor's home.

'X'-citing movie news

With the recent "X-Men" confirmation that there will be a "Gambit" solo spinoff film likely starring Channing Tatum, Tattle Comics Guy Jerome Maida reveals that there should be quite a few solo films starring Marvel's Mutants in the next few years.

"Deadpool wasn't given his due in 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine,' so we'd like to give him that," "X-Men" film producer Lauren Shuler Donner told Comics Guy. "I think there's an interesting movie to be made about Remy LeBeau, who I'm sure you know as Gambit, and there are a few other possibilities."

One of those is definitely having Jennifer Lawrence, following-up what is basically a kick-ass co-starring role in "X-Men: Days of Future Past," with a solo Mystique film to strut her stuff.

"Well, I would like it," Shuler Donner said.

"I think everyone's a possibility, but I have to admit I do love writing for Jennifer Lawrence," "X-Men: Days of Future Past" scripter Simon Kinberg told Comics Guy. "I would write every scene in every movie she does if I could.

"She's a very funny and passionate actress with a ton of class. She's very professional and has a lot of passion for the Mystique character. We'll see."

TATTBITS

* A "Breaking Bad" spinoff on Walter White's shady attorney, "Better Call Saul," will be filmed in Albuquerque, the New Mexico Film Office announced yesterday.

In a statement, officials said that the TV series will be shot at Albuquerque Studios - which was home to the six-year run of "Breaking Bad" - and the production will employ at least 75 to 90 New Mexico crew members.

"We welcome this incredible production team back to the state," said Nick Maniatis, director of the state's film office. "They have proven to be excellent partners with the city of Albuquerque and the state of New Mexico."

Set a TV show in Albuquerque and they film it there. Set a TV show in Philadelphia and they film it in Los Angeles.

* "Harry Potter" star is graduating from Brown University on May 25.

Watson started at Brown in 2009, but, no, she wasn't left back. Along the way, she spent time studying at England's Oxford University and keeping up with her film career (just say "Noah").

Emma's degree will be in English literature with a minor in Muggle Studies.

* EON Productions' Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the stewards of the James Bond franchise, will produce a movie about Edward Snowden's leak of top-secret U.S. surveillance documents.

The film will be based on reporter Glenn Greenwald's book No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA and the U.S. Surveillance State.

We're guessing the movie will have a shorter title.

Wilson and Broccoli called Greenwald's story a "terrifying personal account of one of the most relevant political events of our time."

* Yo-Yo Ma entertained yesterday at the Supreme Court's annual spring musical concert in an ornate conference room beneath portraits of Chief Justices Warren Burger and William Rehnquist, near a statue of the scales of justice tipped entirely toward the wealthy. The current chief justice, John Roberts, and Ma were classmates at Harvard in the 1970s.

Ma played pieces by Bach and John Williams, as well as a Catalan folk song that he said was a favorite of famed Spanish cellist Pablo Casals. Ma performed on a 1712 Davidoff Stradivarius cello.

* TBS says that Conan O'Brien will be sticking around with his late-night hour through 2018.

Recently TBS announced that in 2015, O'Brien will become the first late-night host to broadcast his show from San Diego's Comic-Con.

Big whoop. In June, Tattle will be writing our column from Wizard Con Philadelphia.

* Beyonce and Jay Z are making headlines for another reason this week: They lead in nominations at the BET Awards.

The network announced yesterday that both performers are nominated for five awards, along with Drake. Pharrell and rising performer August Alsina each have four nominations.

The BET Awards will air live June 29 from the Nokia Theatre in L.A.

In related news, Beyonce's sister Solange Knowles is considering moving up in class from flyweight to bantamweight.

- Daily News wire services

contributed to this report.

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