Bakula Rumored to Leap Into Star Trek Series

March 20 -- Scott Bakula, star of the endlessly syndicated sci-fi series Quantum Leap, is reportedly the leading candidate to captain the next Star Trek series.

According to fan site Trek Today (www.trektoday.com), the 46-year-old actor is negotiating to star as Jackson Archer, the headstrong — but of course — captain of the yet-to-be-titled fifth Trek series.

Last time we checked in with Bakula, he was headlining a suburban family pilot titled Father Can't Cope, which has so far failed to show up on any TV schedules.

Bakula's publicist did not immediately return calls to Mr. Showbiz and Paramount reps had a "no comment" at this time.

The Trek fan site claims to have gotten hold of a casting sheet for the new show, which describes Capt. Archer as "a physical, intensely curious captain with a bold personality." In other words, he sounds like a throwback to that first chest-baring, alien-wooing, he-man commander, Capt. James T. Kirk (William Shatner).

We think Bakula — and his manly chest — are up to the job.

Few details are available about the new Trek, but it is said to take place before the other four series.

The current Trek series, Star Trek: Voyager, will sign off from UPN at the end of this season.