'Star Wars': Which characters are getting their own spin-off films?

'Star Wars' will already be getting at least three new films for a new trilogy that's planned for 2015. Which beloved characters from the original trilogy may get their own spin-off movies?

The movie universe has broken wide open since the announcement that Disney purchased LucasFilm and plans to release new Star Wars movies – beginning with Star Wars Episode VII in 2015. Just yesterday came the news from top executives that standalone spinoff films were in the works as well, to fill the years in between each numbered chapter of the unfolding new saga.

A Yoda movie was the first rumored prospect for spinoff; following in the trend of revisiting old characters from the original trilogy, today we get word that Han Solo and Boba Fett might also get their own, respective, feature films.

EW is dropping the exclusive, claiming to have it from sources that Solo and Fett are indeed the characters we will see in spinoff films. It makes perfect sense for Disney/Lucas to take a two-pronged approach to the franchise; on the one hand offering fans the nostalgic thrill of new adventures with old, beloved (lucrative) characters – meanwhile expanding the brand with the new Episodes and their characters.

Word is the Han Solo film would take place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, chronicling how a young rapscallion bacome the legendary lovable roughneck smuggler. Of course (as will be detailed in our upcoming editorial) there must be a “How Han Met Chewie” element to this film for it to be all it can be.

If you couldn’t tell by the parameters being set, Han Solo would have to be played by a younger actor – though like The Hobbit, an aged Harrison Ford could still be utilized to frame the piece. Ford himself said he’s open to returning to the franchise.

The Boba Fett movie is more vague in shape, but basically the idea is to set it between either Episodes IV & V, or V & VI, with the gist of it being Boba tangling with a collection of fellow intergalactic Bounty Hunters and scumbags to obtain (or protect) some quarry. With a loose frame like that, we could very well end up seeing Han Solo’s carbonite slab bounced around the screen for an hour an a half while Boba tries to get it back. Add in cameos by unscrupulous types like Darth Vader, and this anti-hero Star Wars flick could be something refreshingly new.

Captain America director Joe Johnston told us personally he wants to make a Boba Fett movie – we’d still like to see that happen! Star Wars meets Dredd meets Catch Me if You Can? Why not.

The current game plan is for Episodes VII – IX to be released every three years between 2015 – 2021, with additional films (like these solo spinoffs) in the gaps between Episodes chapters. Given the resources of Disney/LF, there very well could be two Star Wars films out a year, keeping with the Marvel blueprint.

No word on casting, writers or directors yet – and given the state flux we are living in regarding Star Wars as a whole, anything could end up happening. Don’t count Yoda, Republic Commandos, Shadow of the Empire or anything else out.

What about you guys? Any ideas to share?

Kofi Outlaw blogs at Screen Rant.