Walt Disney chief executive Bob Iger has confirmed several stand-alone Star Wars movies that are not part of the new trilogy currently in the works. Screenwriters Larry Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are already in a dark room somewhere scribbling away, though Iger did not go into detail about the new project. "There has been speculation about some standalone films that have been in development, and I can confirm to you today that in fact we are working on a few stand-alone films," he told CNBC.

He did say the movies would be based on "great Star Wars characters that are not part of the overall saga," and would be released during the six-year period of the new trilogy, which begins in 2015 with Star Wars: Episode VII. Disney confirmed last month that Star Trek director J.J. Abrams will direct the hugely anticipated seventh instalment of the saga. Though early Twitter speculation has focused on Darth Vader as the possible focus of the spin-off movies, Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News - known for his movie scoops - says otherwise. "Well, f*ck it...The first Stand Alone film is going to center upon YODA.  At this stage specifics are sparse, but Kathleen Kennedy is putting together a STAR WARS slate...  I'm wildly curious for more details on the YODA film - would this be a young or old YODA tale?" he wrote. Harry also spoke of a possible Jabba The Hut story that George Lucas has floated to "some of his buddies"

There's no official word from Disney, though Yoda would certainly be amongst the most likely of characters to helm a Star Wars spin-off movie, perhaps the most marketable too (think of all the Happy Meal toys.)

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