Yep, that's what I've heard. Abrams says he loved the show growing up and insisted on making it a team effort.
I haven't liked Tom Cruise for years. Strangely, it's since he's gone nuts that I've gone back to his films! Well, saw War of the Worlds, and now this.
I don't believe the Ben Affleck rumors for a second. If true, you won't need wild horses to keep me away from the theater.
Actually, they're not rumors; I believe it was an open story that Abrams did talk to Affleck about a Star Trek project, though no mention was made of the role. But when you charge what Affleck does, on this kind of project, it's not so hard to guess.
As a non-Trekkie who only liked the original show, I think they should either let that franchise die, or, if they must continue, do hire someone like Abrams, but go FORWARD, not backward. Ah but don't get me started on the horrors of ST from the first bad movie on...I'm putting my ideas for that kind of thing in a novel I'm writing. :)