Enterprise perhaps plays a leading role with it (8)
I believe the answer is:
starship
'enterprise perhaps' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'plays a leading role with it' is the wordplay.
'plays a leading role' becomes 'stars' (I've seen this before).
'with it' becomes 'hip' (both can mean cool or fashionable).
'stars'+'hip'='STARSHIP'
(Other definitions for starship that I've seen before include "one in SF movie?" , "Enterprise such a vessel" , "Sci-fi space vehicle" , "TV's USS Enterprise, for instance" , "The Enterprise, commanded by Captain Jean-Luc Picard, was one" .)