This week’s Star magazine reports that Jennifer Aniston is “spending time” with her ex-husband Brad Pitt’s co-star in the upcoming film The Assasination of Jesse James, Sam Rockwell. Aniston met Rockwell through her husband a few years ago and he came over to dinner at the then Aniston-Pitt’s a few times. The article claims that Aniston told Rockwell at the time that he looked like Brad’s bother, and he asked her if she had a sister to set him up with. Aniston is the one who is said to have suggested Rockwell for the role opposite Brad in the Jesse James film.

Star says that Rockwell would be great for Aniston, but doesn’t really say they’re together. They just say that she got reaquainted with him when she was doing that theatre charity gig in New York last October and that they met up again during her visit to the city earlier this month.

Both Star and OK! magazine report about a dinner Aniston had at Freeman’s restaurant on March 6th with a group of people. Rockwell was there, but so were several other people. Aniston is thought to be trying to reinvent her career in theatre and producing films based out of NY, where she got her start and still has connections. It is possible it was just a friendly business meeting.

Still, both Star and OK! mention how flirty Aniston and Rockwell were:

The pair… met up in NYC again on March 6, where they had dinner with a small group of friends at Freeman’s restaurant, where, an eyewitness says, “she seemed friendly and flirty - she would touch people’s hands when she talked to them.” She must have enjoyed herself: A source says that she’s thinking of moving to Manhattan to make a fresh start.

When Star caught up with the press-shy actor at his Manhattan apartment, he laughed and coyly claimed, “There’s nothing going on between on. We might be doing a movie together - that’s the dish.”

[From Star Magazine print edition, April 2, 2007, via Sammie's Effluvia]

Star goes on to say what a great couple they would make, while OK! says that there were definitely some sparks flying and that Aniston is looking for love in NY:

A friend of Jen tells OK!, “She has given up on finding love in Los Angeles, where she thinks the men are shallow. Instead, she is determined to become part of New York’s acting scene again even if it means gambling her millions to do so…”

During her recent dinner at Freemans with Sam, 38, who is a member of the avant-garde LAByrinth Theater Company, Jen seemed particularly energized. “They’re talking about working on a big project together,” a source tells OK!. But, a friend of Sam adds, “I think she is more interested in him than the work.”

[From OK! Magazine print edition, March 26, 2007 via Sammie's Effluvia]

Jen was a student at the New York High School of the Performing Arts, where Fame was set, and it seems like a good move for her to try to go back and work on some projects there. Maybe she’ll find love and happiness out east. It seems like this story about Jen and Sam Rockwell is just conjecture at this point. He sure looks like a better choice than Vince Vaughn.

Here’s Aniston walking her dog in Beverly Hills on 3/19. Life and Style recently reported that Aniston bought a Prius, but if that’s true she must not be using yet or these pictures were taken beforehand. [via]