Sci-Fi Heaven has dropped a real bombshell on scifi fans. According to an unnamed source to their site, Tom Hanks is rumored to be seriously considering a role in Erik Jendresen’s scripted STAR TREK XI: The Beginning.

While I have serious doubts of the authenticity of this information, if it does prove to be true then Tom Hanks would be exactly the shot-in-the-arm that this beloved 40 year-old franchise has needed.

Hanks, noted for his love and interest in anything dealing with space and its exploration produced and directed the critically acclaimed and Emmy-winning HBO series From the Earth To the Moon and the World War II mini-series Band of Brothers. The four-time Oscar winner would be the biggest named actor to ever appear on any type of Star Trek venue, and the series’ and movies have had some grand names in the past.

Hanks’ movie roles are a virtual Best of the Best in Hollywood Oscar history; Catch Me If You Can with Leonardo DiCaprio, Castaway with Helen Hunt, The Green Mile, Saving Private Ryan with Matt Damon, Toy Story, Apollo 13 with Kevin Bacon, Forrest Gump with Gary Sinese, Philadelphia with Denzel Washington…and the list just goes on and on. Hanks’ next big screen feature will be the much anticipated The DaVinci Code.

This is a star that can write his own ticket and star in whatever vehicle he desires. If this rumor holds true and Hanks wants to be in STAR TREK, then that sends a message to the suits in Hollywood stronger than anything so far even dreamed of about the importance of this franchise to the world over.