Hopeless romantics the world over seem to be hoping Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston will one day reunite and make the balance of love in the universe right again.

For many, the 55-year-old Hollywood heartthrob and the 50-year-old Friends beauty were the ultimate couple - blessed with eye-watering good looks and indisputable acting talents.

The pair wed in 2000 after two years of dating, but divorced in 2005 amid a flurry of speculation that Brad ditched Jen in favour of Angelina Jolie, 44.

Even while Brad and Ange were an item (between 2005 and 2016), there were some whispers that the Fight Club star was still in close contact with Jennifer.

Rumours are rife that Jennifer Aniston is growing close to Brad again

And then, after Brad’s romance with Angelina collapsed in 2016 (just two years after they married) - and Jen's own marriage to Justin Theroux, 48, ended after two years in 2017 - hopes of a Brad and Jen reunion came alive.

And now in recent weeks there have been rumours, reports and speculation galore that the former husband and wife are rekindling their relationship.

However, this all appears to be hearsay.

But it seems Brad and Jen are not as close as reports suggest

OK! magazine had suggested Jen and Brad had been enjoying “low-key dinners” at her house ever since he attended her 50th birthday celebrations back in February.

However, a spokesperson seemed to be quickly dispatched to play down the report - telling Entertainment Tonight: “She continues to stay in touch with Brad and they occasionally talk”.

Last month, a US gossip magazine suggested Brad and Jen had been enjoying romantic getaways together at his beach side holiday home - using the secluded location as a perfect date location in order to strengthen their romance in private.

Brad and Ange began dating in 2005, wed in 2014, split in 2016, and divorced in 2019 (
Image:
AFP/Getty Images)
Jennifer was married to Justin Theroux in 2015 after dating since 2011 - but it was all over by 2017 (
Image:
WENN)

A source even told the publication that the pair had been: “making the most of their private little beach bubble, because they both know that sooner rather than later, they’ll have to go public with their recoupling.”

However, Jen’s publicist is reported to have told Gossip Cop: “that story about the weekend getaway is totally made up”.

There had also been speculation that Brad and Jen planned to escape to Cabo together following her 50th birthday celebrations.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston pictured together in 2001 (
Image:
Getty)

However, Jen was joined by Friends co-star Courteney Cox, 55, in the Mexican retreat while Brad was nowhere to be seen.

Even on a business level, things are looking less sizzling than reports might suggest.

Earlier this year, there had been a suggestion Brad and Jen had met at Sony Pictures to discuss producing a film together (the pair used launched the Plan B movie production company when they were married - but Brad took control of the company following their divorce).

While it was suggested the former couple “know that if they released a movie together, even just as executive producers, it would be an absolute sensation,” according to Grazie, Gossip Cop had received word form both stars’ representatives that the story was “fabricated”.

Sadly it seems the romance between the former husband and wife is still dead after all.