Maddox Jolie-Pitt files to remove Brad Pitt’s name from his surname

The divide within one of Hollywood’s most closely watched families appears to have widened again.

Maddox Jolie-Pitt, the eldest son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has reportedly filed legal documents seeking to remove “Pitt” from his surname. If approved, the 24 year old would be legally known as Maddox Chivan Jolie.

The reported filing was first detailed by Us Weekly, which said it reviewed court documents submitted on May 28. Other media outlets later reported the same development.

For observers of the Jolie-Pitt family, the move may not come as a surprise.

Earlier this year, Maddox appeared in the credits of Angelina Jolie’s film Couture under the name “Maddox Jolie” while working as an assistant director. In a previous project, the 2024 film Maria, he had been credited as Maddox Jolie-Pitt.

Maddox’s reported filing follows similar decisions by several of his siblings.

In 2024, Shiloh successfully petitioned a court to remove “Pitt” from her surname after turning 18. Vivienne was credited as “Vivienne Jolie” in materials connected to the Broadway production The Outsiders, while Zahara has publicly introduced herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie” and was announced under that name during her recent graduation ceremony.

The surname changes have unfolded against the backdrop of a family conflict that has stretched nearly a decade.

Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt in 2016 following a private plane incident that later became the focus of public allegations and legal disputes. Pitt has denied allegations of abuse connected to the incident. The former couple’s legal battles continued for years, extending beyond custody matters to disputes involving their French winery, Château Miraval.

Public reporting has repeatedly described strained relationships between Pitt and some of his children since the separation. Several entertainment outlets noted that Maddox’s filing adds to a growing list of children who have chosen not to publicly use their father’s surname.

As of publication, the reported request to legally change Maddox’s name had not yet been publicly approved by a judge. Representatives for Pitt have declined comment in some media reports, while Jolie’s representatives have not publicly addressed the filing.