Last month marked three years since Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness announced their split after almost 30 years of marriage.
Now the Broadway star and his girlfriend Sutton Foster are preparing for their own trip down the aisle – if they can stop fighting over the legal issues that seem to be blocking their happily ever after.
IT’S COMPLICATED
“Hugh and Sutton are putting on a good show, but a lot of things aren’t going right for them,” a source close to the couple reveals amid sightings of them looking strained recently in LA.
“The pre-nup is just one of their problems but it’s one that seems to get more complicated each time they address it.”
While Hugh’s divorce from Deb was finalised in 2025, Sutton’s is reportedly dragging on. Despite initially filing for an uncontested split from her ex-husband, Ted Griffin, they are still ironing out issues with the custody of their nine-year-old daughter, Emily.
“The fact Sutton’s divorce isn’t finalised is a massive problem as it affects any pre-nup clauses over what she brings to the marriage,” says the source.
Meanwhile, Hugh’s kids are adults now so there’s no child support and Deb took a lump sum rather than alimony.
“But Deb may want some kind of reassurance that [their children] Oscar and Ava’s fortunes are protected in his pre-nup, so aside from protecting the kids’ trusts he’s free to marry Sutton.
“Unfortunately she’s still figuring it out with Ted, who’s slow-walking everything.”
Adding to their stresses, Sutton, 51, and Hugh, 56, want to start over with a house of their own but the X-Men star still hasn’t sold the $43 million New York property he owns with Deb.
Dubbed the “house of broken dreams”, the luxury five-bedroom pad has been listed for sale twice but a buyer is proving elusive. And until one comes along, Hugh – despite his million dollar movie pay cheques – can’t afford to invest in another property.
And all these conversations around money are putting strain on the couple.
“Hugh and Sutton have a huge asset gap,” points out the insider.
“They both have careers that are making money, but in a pre-nup it’s not so simple to ‘split what we make together’ when one’s Wolverine and the other’s doing a Broadway run.”
Making things trickier is having to face up to sensitive issues that neither of them want to consider.
“Both of them are dealing with pre-nups for the first time, and sadly lawyers have to be involved, which makes it feel like a test, not a marriage.”
All the adults involved are also mindful about ensuring the three children remain protected. But it’s also forced into sharp focus the reality Hugh’s having to face – that his grown-up children just aren’t that excited about their dad’s wedding plans.
LOYAL TO MUM
According to the source, Oscar, 26, and Ava, 21, aren’t ready to join their dad’s bridal party.
“They’re both very loyal to their mum and it’s been a difficult time for them.
“Hugh and Sutton can argue over clauses and trusts, but the one thing they do agree is no one’s buying hats until their kids are on board.”
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