This week’s In Touch Weekly has a story about James Franco and Mila Kunis possibly hooking up. I know, where would James find the time for romancing Mila when he has so much High Art to produce? Also: I’m pretty sure that James has a long-term girlfriend, although God knows what’s really going on with him. But don’t let that ruin a good tabloid story! So, James and Mila have known each other for a while – they filmed a Funny or Die sketch once, and they appeared together in Date Night as a trashy married couple. Then, a few weeks ago, James and Mila were added to the cast of Oz: The Great and Powerful, and somebody at In Touch Weekly decided that James and Mila were probably hooking up already, or that they should start. A source even told the magazine, “They’ve been hooking up on and off for months” and that Mila wanted to do Oz specifically because she wanted to work/hookup with James. Yeah… Gossip Cop, take it away!

It appears the only way Mila Kunis can avoid bogus tabloid-fueled romance rumors would be to stop appearing in movies that also star men.

Despite zero evidence, outlets linked Kunis to her Friends with Benefits co-star Justin Timberlake over and over and over again.

And now, like clockwork, Kunis’ decision to join Oz: The Great and Powerful is being explained as an excuse for her to chase its star, James Franco.

In Touch takes the lead in this round of baseless speculation, claiming Kunis “scoop[ed] up” the role of Theodora the witch in Oz just so she could get closer to Franco.

The actor is “her latest conquest,” declares the magazine, which cites a so-called “source” as saying, “They start filming soon, and she’s really excited to see where this could lead.”

We already know exactly where it will lead – to rumors that Kunis and Franco have struck up an on-set romance, at least until she begins her next project, when she’ll inevitably be linked to that leading man.

A source close to Kunis tells Gossip Cop the Franco rumor is “not true” and points out that the actress was producers’ first choice for her Oz role.

[From Gossip Cop]

I don’t believe that Mila and James have been hooking up, although they are probably closer to each other’s type than Mila and Justin Timberlake. Of course, I also believe that Mila and JT never hooked up, just because I think she would be above that junk. But I worry about Mila. The tabloids are going to be hooking her up with costars until she gets a new boyfriend. So, in this game, which is worse? Justin “Limp, Douchey Cheater” Timberlake or James “Limp, Pretentious High Art” Franco? If I was Mila and those were my only two choices, I would stay home and masturbate, and wait this bitch out.

Here’s an older Funny or Die video where James and Mila spoofed The Hills. It’s funny because Franco is really into it:

Photos courtesy of WENN.