Disney forces Lee to end Eastwood feud

Disney bosses have forced Spike Lee to call a truce with Clint Eastwood after their war of words, fearing the bad publicity would cost his new movie Oscar nominations.

Lee hit out at Eastwood for failing to include black characters in his two 2006 Second World War movies 'Flags of our Fathers' and 'Letters from Iwo Jima'.

The veteran star struck back, telling Lee to "shut his mouth", prompting Lee to take a second swipe, calling Eastwood "an angry old man."

But Lee has backed down after executives at Disney - the studio backing his new war movie 'Miracle at St.Anna' - stepped in.

He tells Entertainment Weekly: "I get the thing, 'Well Mr Eastwood is so well beloved,' and this may have ramifications at Academy time.

"But it's over. I said what I had to say. He believes what he believes. And that's that."