Angelina Jolie, 39, seen here in Tokyo at the Maleficent premiere in June, wants credit issues to be resolved before starting her next directing gig, Africa

It's a behind-the-scenes battle that can only happen in Hollywood.

And Angelina Jolie is front and center.

According to a Wednesday article from the Hollywood Reporter, the 39-year-old Oscar winner is slated to direct a project titled Africa as her next big gig, but she is face a big roadblock.

Ticking clock: Angelina Jolie, 39, seen here in Tokyo at the Maleficent premiere in June, wants credit issues to be resolved before starting her next directing gig, Africa

Nasty business machinations and marital drama between once-married producers is apparently threatening to put the whole thing in jeopardy.

What's more, there's apparently a ticking clock involved to get everything resolved. 

Jolie wants to make the film her next project after directing and starring in By The Sea with husband Brad Pitt.

Africa recounts the amazing life of politician, anthropologist and conversationalist Richard Leakey, who was targeted his whole life as he fought to save elephants from poachers. 

But the main problems with the production involve a rocky relationship between two exes - who both happen to be involved on the producing side.

One of the film's producers is Jon Peters, the famous ex-hair stylist who is responsible for some of the biggest blockbusters of our time (Rain Man, Batman).

He also ran the Sony studio - through excess and arrogance - in the 90s.

But also in the mix for Africa is Peters' ex-wife, Christine Forsyth-Peters.

She says she started Africa's development more than 20 years ago, when her husband was the Sony chief. 

While Christine was developing it, there was even an Oscar-winning screenwriter (Eric Roth) who delivered a script.

Helping hands: Jolie is a United Nations Special Envoy and in June attended the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London.

But since it went nowhere, Sony sold the project's rights to another company, Skydance, for $6 million.

But as fate would have it, they are now teaming with Jon to bring the film to life.

And Skydance now wants Christine to leave the project, but she says she's not going anywhere. 

Working couple: Brad Pitt and Jolie are working together on a project title By The Sea; she's directing, and they both star

Jolie is making sound relevant and dramatic choices for her directing career.

Africa would be the fourth narrative film behind the camera after meaningful dramas In The Land of Blood and Honey, this holiday season's Unbroken and By The Sea.

But only time will tell if an high-powered, ex-lovers quarrel will allow her to bring it to the big screen.

On the acting side, Jolie was recently seen in the global smash Maleficent.

She is also reprising her role as Evelyn Salt in that actioner's sequel.

Meaningful voice: Jolie is one of the most passionate activists in Hollywood and has made sound choices for her directing career

Star producer: Jon Peters received his Walk of Fame star back in 2007; his battle over credits for Africa threatens to put the project in jeopardy