J.J. Abrams has revealed that he would like Peter Graves to star in the next Mission: Impossible installment.

The Star Trek filmmaker, who directed the third movie in the franchise, recently confirmed that he will produce the sequel along with series star Tom Cruise.

Abrams told Sci-Fi Wire that he received a phone call from Graves’s representative who said that the actor is interested in taking part in the follow-up. The 83-year-old portrayed Jim Phelps, the head of an elite group of agents, on the original series from 1967 to 1973 and reprised the role for a short-lived late ’80s TV show.

“I just got a call that Peter Graves is in great shape, which would be a very bizarre bend in the space-time continuum, for obvious reasons,” Abrams said.

The Lost creator also stated that he is open to feature original Mission: Impossible actors in the cinematic version. Trek’s resident Vulcan Leonard Nimoy played Paris for 49 episodes on the TV programme, before starring in Abrams’s recent blockbuster reboot.

He added:

“Whether it’s Nimoy, who I have an incredible affinity for, or Graves, or anyone, we’ll see.”