Back in April, there were some rumors flying around that Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber were on the verge of splitting up. The reports at the time seemed to indicate that Liev was kind of douche, and that Naomi was tired of dealing with him. They have two young sons, and the whole thing was kind of sad, although both seemed to make an effort to deny that they were having problems, and they stayed together for the time being. I theorized at the time that if someone wanted to start a rumor about Schreiber and his Broadway costar Scarlett Johansson, I would be up for it. Anyway, long story short, the “impending breakup” rumors have started anew. The NYDN claims that Liev has flown to Tahiti to get some space while he considers their relationship.

When there is trouble in paradise, head to another one. That seems to be Liev Schreiber’s plan.

A source close to the actor says Schreiber took an early-morning flight yesterday out of Newark to Palm Beach, where he boarded a private plane to Tahiti for “about a week.”

Schreiber is traveling with friends, but the source says one purpose of the trip is to contemplate the state of his five-year relationship with Australian actress Naomi Watts, who will soon portray CIA spy Valerie Plame on the big screen in “Fair Game.”

According to the source, Schreiber, who has two sons with Watts, is technically “together” with the blond beauty, and the couple have appeared in public frequently, most recently at the Tony Awards and a Shakespeare in the Park gala.

But, the source adds, the two have not been getting along lately and Schreiber has decided he needs some space from tensions at home.

Schreiber, who stars alongside Angelina Jolie in the spy flick “Salt” next month, was scheduled to be in Cancun for the big-budget blockbuster’s press junket.

But our insider says the actor is skipping the publicity-go-round for some free time away from work and family, to “sort things out mentally.”

A rep for Schreiber calls our story “ridiculous,” saying: “Liev went on a diving trip with a group of friends, and his boys are too young to go.”

But isn’t that what nannies are for?

[From The New York Daily News]

Hm… I don’t know. I would like to think that they’re very solid, but I’m honestly surprised that they’ve made it work thus far. They’re two working actors, and they both work constantly. Back in April, there was a theory that Schreiber didn’t like being with someone more famous than him, but I don’t know. People know who he is, don’t they? I’ve always liked him as an actor too – and I find him sexy. But will I still like him if he dumps Naomi? Eh. His image might take a hit. But he’s never billed himself as Mr. Family-Friendly, so I think he’ll be okay.

Header: Liev and Naomi at the Tonys on June 13, 2010. Credit: WENN.