In a surprising twist, the divorce settlement of former couple Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan has taken an unexpected turn, as the two actors continue to navigate the legalities of their separation. While both have moved on in their personal lives, the issue at the heart of their ongoing court proceedings is none other than the popular Magic Mike franchise.

Tatum and Dewan, who met on the set of the movie Step Up in 2006 and married in 2009, announced their separation in 2018, and Dewan filed for divorce six months later. Despite legally becoming single in 2019 and signing divorce papers in 2020, the former couple remains embroiled in a dispute over the intellectual property and earnings related to the Magic Mike films.

The Magic Mike franchise, which includes two movies, a live Las Vegas show, a London version, and even a potential musical adaptation, has become a lucrative endeavor. Tatum, co-creator and star of the films, was reported to have earned nearly $60 million from the first movie. However, he later claimed that his earnings were less than $40 million.

Dewan's recent petition argues that although she was not formally involved in the making of the movies, Tatum developed and co-financed the franchise during their marriage using shared resources and efforts. She accuses her ex-husband of intentionally hiding the franchise's licensing and profits through a complex network of limited liability companies (LLCs), holding companies, and partnerships. She also claims that he made business decisions regarding the franchise without her consent and kept all the profits from the venture without informing her.

In response, Tatum's attorneys filed a counterclaim stating that Dewan's accusations are a last-minute attempt to prolong the divorce proceedings. They argue that Dewan was involved in all aspects of their joint investments and transactions, but also assert that Tatum has continued to develop and evolve the Magic Mike character in the six years since their separation. This implies that some of the intellectual property rights belong solely to Tatum, while others may be joint marital property.

Both Tatum and Dewan have included each other on their preliminary witness lists, with Tatum even naming Dewan's fiancé, Steve Kazee, as a potential witness to testify on matters related to their cohabitation and joint expenses. Additionally, they have enlisted the testimony of several Magic Mike collaborators, including directors Steven Soderbergh and Greg Jacobs, and screenwriter Reid Carolin.

While the Magic Mike franchise is not the sole point of contention in their divorce proceedings, Dewan emphasized in her filing that the resolution of the franchise's division will impact the resolution of other financial matters in the case.

Representatives for both Tatum and Dewan have not yet responded to requests for comment on the ongoing legal battle.

It remains to be seen how the court will ultimately resolve the dispute over the Magic Mike franchise and bring closure to the divorce proceedings between Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan.