Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are preparing for a trial separation, it has been claimed.

The former ‘Dawson’s Creek’ star is said to be “crushed by the weight of her marriage” to the Top Gun star — and plans to take their daughter, Suri, with her to New York City. But Tom, say sources, is against her plans.

Star magazine claims that Katie, 29, is “trying to break away from her controlled life under the watchful eyes of her husband and move to Manhattan in what will be a sort of trial separation.”

A source told the publication: “She desperately needs to be on her own for a while, but there’s no way Tom is going to let her take Suri away.

“There’s no way he’ll allow it. He just doesn’t want Katie — or Suri — out of his sight for long. He told her that if she goes to New York, fine, but he goes with her.”

Further, says Star, Tom and Katie’s tug of war over their daughter has intensified as of late.

“Tom wants to call all the shots when it comes to Suri,” says an insider. “He has a lot of rules, and there’s conflict.”