Hot on the heels of yesterday's announcement here on STARTREK.COM of Eric Bana playing the villain "Nero" in the new "Star Trek" movie, comes news that director J.J. Abrams and his team may be closer to getting their Kirk than ever before. The actor of choice for the highly coveted role is Chris Pine, according to today's Hollywood Reporter.

The 27-year-old Pine, whose career has veered from the Lindsay Lohan vehicle "Just My Luck," to the more street cred-worthy "Smokin' Aces," is currently in high demand in Hollywood. The actor, according to the story, can play the Kirk role should he choose. The problem, however, is that he is currently in negotiations to co-star opposite George Clooney in the film "White Jazz." If Pine is unable to do the "Star Trek" movie due to scheduling conflicts, the studio will have to look at other options.

Pine already has a connection to Star Trek through his father. Robert Pine played a Delta Quadrant politico named "Liria" in Voyager's "The Chute," and the emotional Vulcan leader "Tavin" in Enterprise's "Fusion." The elder Pine also co-starred in CHiPs alongside Michael Dorn.

Over the past year plus, several actors have been rumored to play Kirk, as well as the other key parts. So far, none of the rumors have materialized. Actor Mike Vogel, who is starring in the highly guarded and untitled J.J. Abrams project "Cloverfield" (working title) has also been rumored to play Kirk. And in the past several weeks, the New Zealand-born Russell Crowe was rumored to play the "Nero" part now filled by the Australian Bana. Clearly, the Antipodes provide fertile ground for Hollywood villains these days!