Tom Hanks would have jumped at the chance to play Cochrane

Star Trek: First Contact could have had Tom Hanks as Zefram Cochrane…if he’d been asked.

When Star Trek: First Contact was still in the casting stages, many names were considered for the various roles. The role of Zefram Cochrane was an important part to the storyline, and producers knew they’d have to get someone who could nail the role. And they did when they cast James Cromwell, who did an excellent job portraying the drunken creator of warp drive.

Before Cromwell was cast, though, one of the names being bandied about was Tom Hanks, but he was never officially offered the role. In fact, the actor didn’t even know he was being considered for it. He made his feelings clear about whether or not he would have accepted the role in a recent interview with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. [via Whatculture].

"“The guy who invented warp drive? Oh come on! I would have jumped on that!… I would have come in and brought gift Tribbles to everyone on the first meeting. I would have done that!”"

Though Tom Hanks wasn’t cast for Star Trek: First Contact, there are plenty of other opportunities available for the award-winning actor.

There are a plethora of Star Trek properties available today and more coming down the pipeline, which opens up scores of opportunities for the actor who is clearly a Trek fan. And who wouldn’t love to see Hanks beaming aboard one of the starships?

Whether an admiral or an Andorian, Hanks could make the role work, and he wouldn’t be the first movie star to make an appearance in the franchise. Star Trek is well-known for casting famous Trek fans even in cameo roles. But we certainly hope anything that is offered to Hanks is far more than a simple walk-on role.