It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Scarlett Johansson out and about with a man but this week, she was spotted in NYC in the close company of a mysterious new fella. As you may recall, Scarlett was last seen publicly in the close company of actor Sean Penn last May but the pair ended up breaking off their involvement last June (one month before her marriage to Ryan Reynolds was officially ended in July). Since that time, ScarJo has been flying solo … until now. Click below to see a couple photos of Scarlett and her new mystery man. Could this the start of a new love affair for Ms. Scarlett?

Her last fling was with Hollywood heavyweight Sean Penn after a string of high-profile relationships with actors. But it looks like Scarlett Johansson may have been looking for someone a little less in the spotlight for her new new love interest. She stepped out with a mystery man in New York over the weekend, holding hands with her suspected beau. The 27-year-old beamed at the cameras during the romantic stroll, obviously not afraid of showing off the courtship. The Lost In Translation Star was spotted with the man again on Saturday, with her arm around his waist, after a gym workout. Scarlett split from Sean in June after five months together, amid rumours he did ‘not want to be tied down’. He divorce from actor Ryan Reynolds was made final [the following] month. The couple had married in September 2008, but announced their separation in December 2010. Ryan is now seeing Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively … Meanwhile, it was claimed she was so keen to avoid any encounters with ex-husband Ryan and his new girlfriend in New York, that she is considering buying a property in London.
Sources said the Hollywood pin-up was in the capital last week and visited an estate agent to help with her search for an apartment.
‘Scarlett doesn’t want any awkward run-ins with Ryan and Blake in New York,’ says a friend. ‘She was always a little uncomfortable about the fact that Ryan and Blake worked together while she was still married to him. When Scarlett is in New York she keeps a low profile.’

Now, to be fair, it’s possible that this new dude is merely a friend … maybe an intimate friend but we do not know for sure if Scarlett and this guy are romantically involved. They sure do look close tho. Hand holding one day, a walking embrace the next … by the looks of these photos, the pair do look pretty cozy. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what comes of this new … relationship. But, while we wait … what do y’all think of ScarJo‘s new dude? Is he an upgrade or a downgrade from Sean Penn? How about from Ryan Reynolds?

[Photo credit: INFdaily; Source]