Eric Bana has signed up to play the villain in the new Star Trek movie, say reports.

According to Empire, the Hulk actor will take on the role of Nero in the eleventh movie in the franchise.

US reports claim that Nero will play a key role in connecting old characters such as Leonard Nimoy's Spock with new ones such as Zachary Quinto's young Spock.

Director JJ Abrams reportedly offered the bad guy role to Russell Crowe back in August.

Star Trek XI is scheduled to be released in the US on Christmas Day 2008.