Weeks after their much-publicised split, Charlize Theron and Sean Penn are headed back to South Africa to shoot more scenes for his latest directorial effort, The Last Face.
The Hollywood A-listers will film additional movie scenes in Cape Town over two weeks, a well-placed source told City Press.
This may be awkward given their recent break-up – which elicited a tabloid frenzy in Beverly Hills and beyond.
Penn was spotted at the Mother City’s five-star Mount Nelson Hotel on Friday.
A witness at the plush hotel said Penn looked grumpy, causing her to refrain from asking for a picture with him.
Theron, who is currently in the UK, is expected to arrive in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Theron (39) and Penn (54) flaunted their affection for each other on red carpets worldwide during their one and a half years together.
But last month Hollywood.com reported that his “seriousness and lack of having fun” caused their sizzle to fizzle.
Their break-up put the concept of “ghosting” on the pop culture map. According to rumour, Theron ghosted Penn – this is when a lover stops responding to his or her partner’s messages. The New York Times called ghosting “the ultimate silent treatment”.
Meanwhile, a source who worked on The Last Face told City Press the pair had several fights on set. “Of the 63 shooting days, I’d say there were about three major disagreements. The thing is, Sean is a perfectionist, and Charlize is just as outspoken. So you can imagine,” the source said.
The Last Face, which features Theron and Javier Bardem as doctors who fall in love while working in refugee camps, is expected to be released close to Christmas.
It was filmed in the country over three months last year, with notable shoots including one with 3 000 extras on Cape Town’s Long Street and some “jungle scenes” at Mzamba on KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast.
Last year Penn celebrated his birthday – on August 17 – at Die Strandloper restaurant, which overlooks the Langebaan Lagoon about 125km from Cape Town on the west coast.
Twelve guests at the birthday party, including Theron’s mother, Gerda, and her adopted son, toddler Jackson, tucked into snoek and mussels.
Jackson was enrolled at the prestigious Reddam House in Green Point while Theron worked on the movie. Parents at the school told City Press they saw her drop him off personally in the mornings.
The production’s swish wrap party was hosted on November 5 at Koi Restaurant, inside the Ambassador Hotel, which offers floor-to-ceiling views of Cape Town’s Bantry Bay.
At the party, the film’s stars and crew were treated to sushi canapés while Penn delivered a speech. Among other things, he told the crowd that The Last Face was “a love letter to my girlfriend, Charlize”.
This week, Theron was spotted in the UK smoking a cigarette on the set of The Huntsman, a prequel to Snow White and The Huntsman. She will reprise her role as Queen Ravenna.
Meanwhile, tabloids reported on Wednesday that Friday Night Lights actress Minka Kelly (35) denied via Twitter that she was dating Penn, after the two were seen getting cosy at her birthday dinner.