Next year marks two decades since Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt met and fell in love on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith – fast becoming Hollywood’s ultimate golden couple and going on to wed at their picturesque French chateau in 2014. 
But now, eight years on from when Angelina, 49, first filed for divorce in 2016 after just two years of marriage, their Chateau Miraval wedding venue is now at the centre of one of the most toxic splits that the showbiz world has ever seen. 
The couple have been locked in a legal duel for the £130 million estate, which produces their Miraval Rose wine , since 2021, when Angelina sold her share to a Russian vodka magnate – a decision Brad, 60, promptly sued her for. 
Meanwhile, Angelina’s team allege that she had wanted to sell her percentage to Brad, but that he had demanded she sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement as part of the deal – something they say was an attempt to ‘control’ her.
And last week, following whispers of an upcoming peace deal over the custody of their two youngest children – 16-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne – and their extensive assets, a new court ruling has now dropped yet another huge bombshell into the heart of their on-going divorce battle. 

While Brad won the first round of the legal dispute earlier this month – with a judge ruling against Angelina’s bid to throw the case out – last week, it was declared that Brad be made to hand over  documents that Angelina and her legal team claim will show that he covered up alleged domestic violence against her and their children. 
 And now an insider reveals that Brad is convinced that his ex-wife is determined to wreak revenge on him following what he believes to be her ‘calculated’ decision to attend the red carpet of the Governors Ball last fortnight, arm-in-arm with their son Knox. 
The source says, ‘It was very hard for Brad to see photos of Knox with Angelina on the red carpet because he hardly gets to see him. He’s proud of Knox and has no issue with him getting out there and making a name for himself but he can’t help but feel it’s all very calculated by Angelina to mess with him. 
‘It’s upsetting; no doubt about it, but Brad is also pretty much used to it. Every year Angelina pulls some sort of stunt around the holidays that’s so obviously aimed at seeking revenge by hurting him.
‘Whether it’s taking the kids far away for a trip to make it next to impossible for him to see them, or filing something with the courts to throw a wrench into things.’

The former couple also share Maddox, 23, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19 Shiloh, 18, and their children have been very much at the centre of their feud. 
And the source says Brad, who will celebrate his birthday on December 18th, would love nothing more than to be with his children during this time of year – something they say Angelina is hell-bent on not agreeing to. 
The source adds, ‘His birthday is coming up and he’d love to see his kids but he’s not counting on it because most years she finds a way to interfere.
‘It’s incredibly frustrating and sad but he’s trying not to get sucked down by it, he can’t control her actions, all he can do is focus on getting his court mandated time with his kids and being the best dad he can be.
‘He’s tried so many different avenues to mend things with them, and with Angelina, and it’s almost impossible. His only option has been to have his lawyers continue to push for more time and to do what he can to get through to his kids when he does see them.’ 
And this isn’t the first time Angelina has been accused of seeking revenge. 
In 2022, FBI documents, that were requested to be released by Angelina, contained details of an altercation that is alleged to have happened on the couple’s private jet – just days before Angelina officially filed for divorce in September 2016. 
The documents, which were initially redacted (meaning sensitive information was taken out) contain accusations made by Angelina against Brad, who she described as acting ‘like a monster’ and  treating her ‘like a hostage’ – alleging that he  grabbed and shook her, pushed her into a wall and punched the ceiling.  

Angelina also admitted she had put her arms around Brad’s neck in self-defence of what she claims as his attempts to attack one of their children. 
No charges were brought against Brad but the couple’s four older children have ‘virtually no contact’ with their dad, with Shiloh dropping the ‘Pitt’ from her surname when she turned 18 earlier this year. 
Now the source says that after going public with his new girlfriend, jewellery designer Ines De Ramon -who he is believed to have been dating since 2022 – in September, Brad has moved on with his life, but that the shadow of his divorce from Angelina is still looming over him.
The source says, ‘Brad has so many reasons to be happy right now, his career is going great, he’s madly in love, he has a wonderful group of friends. The only thing weighing him down is the situation with his kids and the court case.
‘He’s done with trying to appease Angelina or beg her to see reason. He’s seen how pointless that is. That’s why he’s throwing everything he’s got at this court case over Chateau Miraval. 
‘He’s fighting back and standing up for his legacy and he has no intention of backing down. He’s convinced that once this goes to trial, which may not happen for another year, or even two, he will be vindicated.’  

However, with a date yet to be set, their divorce battle could continue into 2026, with the source adding that Angelina is also adamant that she won’t back down. 
They say, ‘Of course, Angelina’s convinced she’s in the right and is complaining that Brad is using his lawyers, and endless resources, to bully her. 
‘Her conscience is clear about the way she handled Miraval because she did offer him the right to buy it. She only went elsewhere when he effectively tried to muzzle her to stop her from talking. 
‘She is not going to bend. Angelina is determined to stand up for her rights, not only for herself, but for her children.’