Samuel L. Jackson and Ewan MacGregor in Star Wars. Photo/supplied
Add Samuel L. Jackson to the burgeoning list of stars who are chomping at the bit to dust off their lightsabers and get a piece of the action in the upcoming Star Wars movies.
Jackson - who played Jedi Master Mace Windu in George Lucas's Star Wars prequel trilogy - is throwing his hat in the ring for Episode VII.
Disney announced in October that it will revive the classic sci-fi franchise by releasing a new trilogy.
The seventh movie, based on a script written by Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3 scribe Michael Arndt, is scheduled for release in 2015. Episodes 8 and 9 will follow.
"I'm not surprised but totally geeked by the idea of there being more Star Wars," the actor, whose character fell to his death in Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, told E! News during a recent confab.
"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.
"I can come back as one-armed or a one-handed Jedi that's still around that didn't actually die."
Asked if he'd definitely be interested in resurrecting Mace Windu, Jackson replied, "Hell yeah!"
"I could do that or be a ghost hologram. I don't care," the Avengers star quipped. "I just want to stay associated with the franchise. Not that I won't because I've been in three of them."
As for why he'd like to be on board for the new installments, he continued: "I just always loved it. I always loved the idea of it, that there's this whole civilisation out there somewhere else that's just as much fun and different and diverse and wild as we are."
'IF THEY NEED ME, I'LL BE THERE'
Ewan McGregor, who starred as a younger Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequel trilogy, also recently said he would be willing to pick up his lightsaber once again.
"Yeah of course. If they need me, yeah, I'd be happy [to go back]," the actor dished to Digital Spy while making the publicity rounds for his latest movie, The Impossible.
"I know nothing about it other than what I've read on the Internet," he added.
Check out McGregor's interview below:
McGregor also spoke to Access Hollywood this week about the possibility of being in the upcoming Star Wars sequels.
"Yeah, sure... absolutely," he said when asked if he'd like to be on board. "If they need me, I'll be there," he added.
McGregor also discussed George Lucas's involvement in the new trilogy.
"Lucas let me know that he was selling [Star Wars] the day before it was released to press and then he told me they were going to make the last three stories," he shared.
"And then I met him recently and asked him if he was going to be involved in them at all and he said, he'd given them the storylines for the last three, which he always planned to do, but he was never going to make them," McGregor said.
"Because he felt like that would be his life's work and he wanted to do other things."
Lucas recently shared that his contribution will be limited.
"[If the filmmakers ask],'Who's this guy?' I can tell them," he revealed. "I mean, they have a hundred encyclopedias and things, but I actually know a lot. I can say, 'This is this and this is that.'"
Lucas added: "Basically I'm not - I don't really have much to do."
He also laughed off recent rumours that his pal Steven Spielberg might consider directing Episode VII.
"I'm pretty sure he'd never want to do that!" he said. "I don't think he'd want to."
Recent buzz claimed that Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn is on the shortlist of potential helmers for the project.
Speaking at the premiere of new film Seven Psychopaths last month, actor Jason Flemyng appeared to inadvertently end weeks of speculation about who will take over Lucas's franchise.
"Me and Matt have done nine films together, so I'm sure I'll get the call for Star Wars," Flemyng said, when asked by film site Hey U Guys if he had spoken to Vaughn about Star Wars.
"But I'm sure it's going to be literally 'Flemyng, no, I know on paper it doesn't look like much, but I promise you it's essential to the part'".
Asked if the director wanted in on the movie, he added, "I think that's... er yeah, he's interested, yeah. Bar the deal."
Vaughn was first rumoured to be linked to the project after he unexpectedly dropped out of directing X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Speculation was rife that he exited the X-Men project to helm the Star Wars movie, but as Empire points out, Vaughn left the mutant sequel to work on something else entirely called The Secret Service.
'WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT'
Original franchise star Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) recently said she was interested in returning - albeit with her tongue placed firmly in cheek.
Mark Hamill - who played Luke Skywalker in the first three Star Wars films, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi - isn't so sure.
"We [Hamill and Fisher] have questions about it," Hamill told E! News last month. "And really, they're not even at the stage where they're able to answer those questions because, as far as I know, is there a story yet?"
"I loved all those people, I really did," he said of working with Fisher, Harrison Ford and Lucas on the original movies. "Until I know more about what they have in mind, I think it's better to let Lucasfilm make the announcements."
Ford, on the other hand, is said to be "open" to the idea of reprising his role as Han Solo.
And let's not forget iconic uber-villain Darth Vader, whose death was recently rumoured to be negotiable now that the Mouse House is holding the reins on the franchise.
Britain's Daily Express, quoting a "film mole", speculated last month that Vader, who popped his clogs in Return of the Jedi, will return.
"He's an integral part of the franchise. Replacing him is virtually impossible.
"The plan is for him to return and play a significant role in the new films. This is science fiction remember. Darth Vader will rise from the ashes."
FAST GOSSIP
And finally...
* Charlie Sheen says Lindsay Lohan never thanked him for handout. Probably slipped her mind. She's been a busy little bee of late.
* Breaking news: Jennifer Aniston covers her stomach amid pregnancy rumours (which her rep recently called "crap" on).
* "It probably drove her insane" - singer Brandy talks late singer Whitney Houston's vocal problems.
* Billwatch: Pamela Anderson hit with tax debt.
* Hugh Jackman tears up remembering his mother's abandonment.
* What do Taylor Swift and Yoko Ono have in common? Not a lot.
* Watch: Will and Jaden Smith team up in trailer for M. Night Shyamalan's After Earth.
* "They are my prizewinners" - Glee star Lea Michele beams about her boobs.
* Is Russell Crowe really romancing Billy Joel's ex-wife?
* Must watch: Feast your eyes on Superman in the new Man Of Steel trailer.
* That's some rock! Crystal Harris shows off huge diamond engagement ring from Hugh Hefner.
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- Rumour Has It