News surrounding the new "Star Wars" films continues to arrive at light speed. Disney announced its purchase of Lucasfilm for $4.05 Billion and intentions to release three new "Star Wars" movies beginning in 2015; "Toy Story 3" writer Michael Arndt has signed a deal to write the screenplay for "Episode VII"; script treatments were bought from "Empire Strikes Back" scribe Lawrence Kasdan, and Simon Kinberg, presumably for Episodes VIII and IX. And now it looks like Samuel L. Jackson wants to return to the series.
The actor who famously portrayed Mace Windu in the three "Star Wars" prequels says the idea of adding more films to the saga excites him, and he'd love to reprise his role.
"I'm not surprised but totally geeked by the idea of there being more 'Star Wars,'" the actor told E! News. "It's like, okay, Obi-Wan was dead when episode four started, so maybe everyone thinks I'm dead and we'll find out what happened to Mace Windu."
With three films currently in production, right now Jackson's schedule is full, but when he was asked if he wanted to return to his role for "EpisodeVII," he enthusiastically responded, "Hell yeah!"
Of course, that full schedule will matter less and less, as "Episode VII" likely won't start filming for at least one year; aside from signing Arndt to write the screenplay, Disney has yet to confirm a director, or anything else concerning the movie's production.
"I can come back as one-armed or a one-handed Jedi that's still around that didn't actually die," Jackson suggested. "I could do that or be a ghost hologram. I don't care!"
He added: "I just want to stay associated with the franchise. Not that I won't, because I've been in three of them."
Jackson says he's always been a big fan of sci-fi, and relishes the thought of returning to the "Star Wars" universe in a galaxy, far, far away.
"I just always loved it. I always loved the idea of it, that there's this whole civilization out there somewhere else that's just as much fun and different and diverse and wild as we are," he said.
Jackson is just the latest "Star Wars" actor to express interest in reprising their role for the new films.
Actor Ewan McGregor, who played Luke Skywalker's Jedi mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, in the "Star Wars" prequels is interested in reprising his role in the new films.
"Yeah of course," answered McGregor when asked if he wanted to play the role again by Digital Spy in a recent interview. "If they need me, yeah, I'd be happy," the 41-year-old Scotland native added.
When the reporter suggested Kenobi might come back as a ghost, McGregor suggested, "Or maybe he comes back."
McGregor then quickly backpedaled and clarified, "I know nothing about it other than what I've read on the Internet."
Recently, Carrie Fisher, Princess Lea herself, hinted she might be interested in a role in one of the new films as well.
TMZ surrounded Fisher while the actress was walking her dog and asked if a return for "Episode VII" might happen. "Yes, sure," Fisher replied. Pushed to clarify further if she would indeed star in "Star Wars" if approached, the Princess Leia actress retorted, "Wouldn't you?"
Entertainment Weekly reported similar interest from Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Fisher.
"Harrison is open to the idea of doing the movie and he's upbeat about it, all three of them are," an unnamed source claimed to Entertainment Weekly, referring to the 70-year-old Han Solo actor, along with his original co-stars Hamill, and Fisher.
Hamill revealed he and Fisher had found out about the new films two months ago when Lucas took the pair to lunch. "He said, 'We decided we're going to do Episodes VII, VIII, and IX,'" Hamill told EW.com. "I was just gobsmacked. 'What? Are you nuts?!'"
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Sources have said not to discount the possibility that a number of characters from previous 'Star Wars' films could reappear - even the dead Jedis, who have a habit of showing up in spirit form."
One of those returning characters may be Lando Calrissian. According to Moviehole, which claims to have obtained the scoop from a Lucasfilm employee, the character appears in Arndt's treatment for "Episode VII."
Originally portrayed by Billy Dee Williams, Calrissian was last seen helping his friend Han Solo in taking down the Empire in "Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi". The character was still alive at the end of the movie as he was seen celebrating in the Ewok village. Dee Williams himself recently told TMZ, "I'd love to be involved in some way with it ['Episode VII']."
Disney CEO Bob Iger says the company plans to release a new "Star Wars" film every two to three years after "Episode VII."
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