A representative for director Julian Schnabel has failed to put an end to rumours the star's marriage is in trouble, despite reports he is romancing Palestinian author RULA JEBREAL.
According to reports, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly filmmaker and his second wife Olatz López Garmendia have not been seen in public together since February (08), when they attended the Vanity Fair post-Oscar party.
And the New York Post's gossip column Page Six is now speculating over allegations that Schnabel and Jebreal are romantically involved, after working together on turning her book Miral into a film.
Schnabel, who announced his involvement in the project earlier this year (08), was reportedly spotted holding hands with Jebreal last week (ends29Aug08) while in Israel to scout locations for the movie. They were then reportedly seen heading to Schnabel's luxury home in the Middle Eastern country.
Another source tells the publication that Garmendia - the mother of two of Schnabel's children - is "despondent and distraught" over the claims.
Schnabel's spokesperson has confirmed the movie is in the works, but has refused to comment on the nature of the director's relationship with Jebreal, or the status of his marriage.