Insiders predict that British director Gareth Edwards's Star Wars spin-off movie will be an "origins" story featuring one of the original trilogy's most popular characters: Boba Fett, Han Solo or Yoda.
In a statement on the official Star Wars website, the film's producers said that "in addition to the episodes of a new Star Wars trilogy, Lucasfilm and Disney have begun development on multiple stand-alone movies that will offer new stories beyond the core Saga".
No official announcement has been made about what the spin-off films will explore, but Disney has previously said that they would be "origins" movies, telling the backstory of well-known characters. The studio also said the spin-offs would be released every two years, alternating with the new Star Wars trilogy.
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The spin-offs "are expected to centre on figures from the original trio of films released between 1977 and 1983," the Guardian says. "Boba Fett, Han Solo and Yoda are considered strong candidates".
Gareth Edwards, the director of the new Godzilla film, was unveiled yesterday as the director of the first spin-off. He said: "Ever since I saw Star Wars I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life – join the Rebel Alliance. I could not be more excited and honoured to go on this mission with Lucasfilm."
The first film will be written by Gary Whitta, who has previously written 2010's The Book of Eli, which starred Denzel Washington.
"From the moment I first saw the original movie as a wide-eyed kid, Star Wars has been the single most profound inspiration to my imagination and to my career as a writer," Whitta said. "It is deeply special to me … I'm still pinching myself."
The first spin-off film is due out in December 2016.
