While Gene Hackman has admittedly confirmed in interviews that he's officially retired from acting, it's hard to believe that the two-time Academy Award winner would let his distinguished career end on the relative low point of the critically-lambasted 2004 Ray Romano vehicle "Welcome to Mooseport." Given the right script and director, might he consider re-emerging from his cocoon for a shot at an Oscar three-peat? Tarantino is the rare Hollywood director who's managed to keep putting out provocative, unconventional films while remaining an Academy darling, and it's just that combination that makes him an excellent candidate to woo a legend like Hackman out of retirement. Not to mention, he has a track record of writing juicy parts for aging thesps, from Robert Forster in "Jackie Brown" to the late David Carradine in "Kill Bill." Needless to say, it would certainly be interesting to see what he could do with a powerhouse like Hackman.

- Chris Eggertsen