Former celebrity couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, have reached a significant turning point in their long-standing legal battle over their prized French vineyard, Chateau Miraval.
After years of bitter disputes and allegations, the Hollywood stars have agreed to pursue a settlement outside of court.
The vineyard, situated on a sprawling 1300-acre estate in the scenic south of France, was purchased by Pitt and Jolie in 2008.
The couple, renowned for their interest in winemaking, joined forces with the prestigious French wine-makers Famille Perrin in 2013 to establish a highly successful organic wine business.
However, in 2016, their relationship took a downturn, culminating in a high-profile divorce filing by Jolie after an incident involving their children during a plane trip.
The divorce proceedings dragged on for years, making it one of the most protracted and publicized celebrity divorces in recent memory.
The latest twist in the tale emerged with a legal filing that accused Brad Pitt of bullying and engaging in illegal behavior related to the vineyard.
The accusations sparked a heated legal dispute over the ownership and management of Chateau Miraval, with both sides seeking control and financial compensation.
Recently, documents were filed showing that Pitt and Jolie have now agreed to explore mediation as a means of resolving their differences.
This alternative method of dispute resolution provides them with an opportunity to work towards an amicable resolution, potentially avoiding further courtroom drama.
In light of the dispute, Pitt has appointed a 'provisional administrator' to Chateau Miraval. This move aims to safeguard the wine business, which Pitt has been actively involved in building alongside the Perrin Family.
The appointed administrator will assess the winery's operations and, it is hoped, facilitate negotiations between Pitt and Nouvel LLC, the investment company Angelina Jolie sold her share of the vineyard to - a transaction that triggered the ongoing legal imbroglio.
A French source close to the matter commented on the recent developments, stating: "In view of the dispute between Nouvel LLC (controlled by Stoli boss Yuri Shefler) and Mondo Bongo LLC (controlled by Brad Pitt), Chateau Miraval and its director have requested and obtained the appointment of a provisional administrator by the Draguignan (France) Commercial Court, to enable the company and its director to continue to grow the business and its essential partnership with the Perrin Family until such dispute is resolved, in the interests of Château Miraval, its directors, employees, partners, and subsidiaries."
Though the legal battle has been intensely acrimonious, both Pitt and Jolie's willingness to pursue mediation indicates a potential willingness to put their differences aside for the sake of their once-successful joint venture.