Disney Plans Young Han Solo & Boba Fett Spinoff Films

Size matters not...unless you're talking about the Star Wars franchise.

In addition to the upcoming third trilogy of films, with the first to be directed by J.J. Abrams, the Walt Disney Empire Co. revealed yesterday that they are planning to make several spinoff films set in the Star Wars fictional universe.  Entertainment Weekly revealed two such projects today, a young Han Solo saga exploring the scruffy-looking scoundrel's origin and a bounty hunter adventure centered around fan-favorite Boba Fett.  They claimed several sources close to the projects confirmed the information, although left room for a change in plans and both Lucasfilm and Disney declined to comment.

Walt Disney Co. chairman and CEO Bob Iger announced the plans yesterday as part of the company’s quarterly earnings report. He said the screenwriters working of the stand-alone films are Simon Kinberg (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Sherlock Holmes) and Lawrence Kasdan (screenwriter of The Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark).  Both are also involved in drafting scripts for the new trilogy, with Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3) scripting Episode VII that is scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2015.

Han Solo's story would be set in the time period between Revenge of the Sith and the first Star Wars (a.k.a. A New Hope) and could potentially feature actor Harrison Ford returning to frame Han's origin in flashback form with a much younger actor taking over the role.  It's not yet known if this storyline will be based around "The Han Solo Trilogy," three Star Wars novels by A.C. Crispin that were released from 1997 to 1998.  Set before the events of A New Hope, the trilogy starts with 19-year-old Han escaping a life of drudgery to become a pilot, entering Imperial military training, winning his ship the MIllennium Falcon from Lando Calrissian, hooking up with his best friend Chewbacca, and the events leading up to his first encounter with Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Mos Eisley cantina.

As for the Boba Fett film, it would be set either between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, or between Empire and Return of the Jedi, where the bounty hunter ended up falling into a sarlacc pit. A natural choice to play Fett would be Temuera Morrison, who played Boba's father Jango Fett in Attack of the Clones.

The projects would also allow for the potential return of characters Darth Vader and Jabba the Hutt, who both died in Return of the Jedi, as well as any number of references to the main Star Wars saga.

Another possible spinoff could involve the Jedi Master Yoda, as reported two days ago by Ain't It Cool News.  No other details were provided and it's not known if Frank Oz would return to voice the character once again.