On Tuesday, rumors spread that there would be a new "Star Wars" spin-off that would focus on Yoda. Hours later, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that the company was working on a number of side stories in the franchise.
"We are in fact working on a few stand-alone films," said Iger during an interview with CNBC. "(Lawrence) Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are both working on films derived from great Star Wars characters that are not part of the overall saga. So we plan to make Star Wars VII, VIII and IX over roughly a six-year period of time starting in 2015. But there are going to be a few other films released in that period of time too."
Iger also confirmed that Kasdan (the writer of 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi') and Kinberg are working closely with director J.J. Abrams as consultants. "Episode 7" is slated for a 2015 release date. The film will be directed by Abrams and written by Michael Arndt.
Iger did not reveal which characters would be at the center of these stand-alone movies, but his statement will undoubtedly set off tons of speculation. Some popular choices to lead spin-off movies would be Yoda, Chewbacca, and Boba Fett. Fett's childhood was briefly portrayed in "Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones" but his growth into the bounty hunter that re-appeared in "Episodes 5" was never showcased on film.
UK publication the Guardian joked about seeing the return of Jar Jar Binks of "Episode 1." "Not all Star Wars films need to be action spectaculars, which is why I propose a Duplass-directed mumblecore indie drama about Jar Jar Binks, and the effects of his tragic inability to interact with the world around him on any meaningful level. Jar Jar, Who Lives at Home, if you will," writes the publication.
UPDATE: Entertainment Weekly reports that two of the spin-offs could include the origins of young Han Solo and Boba Fett. EW Writes: "The Han Solo story would take place in the time period between Revenge of the Sith and the first Star Wars (now known as A New Hope), so although it's possible Harrison Ford could appear as a framing device, the movie would require a new actor for the lead - one presumably much younger than even the 35-year-old Ford when he appeared in the 1977 original. The Boba Fett film would take place either between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, or between Empire and Jedi, where the bounty hunter was last seen plunging unceremoniously into a sarlacc pit. Exactly who would play him isn't much of a complication - in the original trilogy, he never took off his helmet. And in the prequels, we learned he was the son of the original stormtrooper clone, played by Temuera Morrison, who's still the right age for the part if his services were required."
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