Eric Bana replaces Brad Pitt in space-travel flicks

Melbourne, Mar 16 : Aussie star Eric Bana is set to star in two space-travel films, including one Brad Pitt and ex-wife Jennifer Aniston had coveted for themselves before they split in 2005.

Bana said that he was very excited about the two projects - 'The Time Traveller's Wife' and 'Star Trek XI', which are expected to cost more than 150 million dollars to make.

Pitt, who is said to be obsessed with space-travel films, and Aniston had the rights to The Time Traveller's Wife. But after they divorced, the rights to the story and the film roles came up for grabs.

"I was very fortunate to get that, as it was originally for Brad and Jennifer many years ago -- it was their pet project before they broke up,'' News.com.au quoted Bana, as saying.

"It's a great screenplay and a much coveted role. It was completed just before Christmas and should be out later this year,'' he added.

The 39-year-old plays a librarian with a genetic disorder that causes him to time-travel when he is stressed.

He said the film was "more a love story than a sci-fi flick''.

For sci-fi, he has the 11th installment of the Star Trek movie enterprise, which began filming last year for release in 2009.

ANI