Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis are attempting to launch the long-gestating* space-themed feature, “Major Matt Mason,” with the help of independent film financiers, TheWrap has learned.

    Hanks said he would star in the film, to be directed by Zemeckis.

    “I started tinkering* with the story after ‘Larry Crowne,’” Hanks said, referring to the 2011 film he wrote, directed and starred in with Julia Roberts.

    Hanks said he has co-written the astronaut story, with Graham Yost who wrote “Speed.”

    The character of “Major Matt Mason” is based on an astronaut toy that hit the market in 1966, prior to the first manned moon mission.

    Universal is handling domestic rights for the film, according to a studio representative. The project is being pitched to potential buyers during the run-up to the American Film Market.

    AFM is seeing an increasing number of high-profile films handled by veteran sales companies that can leverage foreign financing to help get a film made. “Major Matt Mason” is an especially high-profile film to go that route.

    The story is set on the moon, following a team of people based at a space station. Yost said in an interview: “There’s no bad guy. There are no aliens. Nothing like that. It’s just, can you survive?”

    Hanks and Zemeckis have collaborated on a number of films, including “Forrest Gump” and “The Polar Express.”(SD-Agencies)