'Brad and Ange split because their 'Brangelina' brand was suffering,' the source tells New Idea.
'Breaking up and then getting back together will put them back on top and back in favour with the fans and the powers-that-be in Hollywood.'
Sources say it was the career low that lead to Brad and Ange making their bizarre decision to fake their split.
The pair are set to reunite on the one-year anniversary of their split - September 19 - and are hoping the news will resurrect their careers and put them back on top of Hollywood's most wanted lists.
The shock reconciliation comes after mum-of-six Ange revealed she hated being alone and was struggling with her split from Brad, 53.
'It's been difficult. I don't enjoy being single,' the 42-year-old told the UK Sunday Telegraph. 'There's nothing nice about it. It's just hard.'
Read the full story in this week's issue of New Idea, out now.