Harrison Ford to return as Han Solo in new Star Wars?

Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Peter Mayhew as Chebacca in Star Wars. Photo/supplied

Harrison Ford will play Han Solo again in the new Star Wars trilogy, it has been claimed.

According to Latino Review scooper Umberto "El Mayimbe" Gonzalez, the 70-year-old actor is "officially" on board for the new series of films.

In an appearance on Fox News Latino, Gonzalez claimed Ford's deal to return to the franchise is "done".

"Back in November Harrison Ford said he was open to the idea of returning as Han Solo, but it's official," Gonzalez said.

"Harrison Ford will reprise his role as Han Solo in the upcoming Star Wars movies. It's huge. It hasn't been reported anywhere yet. He's officially coming back as Han Solo."

He added, "I found out yesterday. I did my due diligence, like I do with everything. Triple checked. Legitimate sources...his deal is done. It's just a formality, right now. They haven't really announced it yet."

Ford's deal to return to the franchise was "significant," Gonzalez claimed, but he was unable to confirm whether the actor's role in the series will be a major one or a cameo.

"The deal is pretty big...it's significant," he said.

Check out video of Gonzales' interview below (Star Wars bit kicks in at around 6min 20sec):

There's been no official comment from Ford's publicist or Disney on the reported casting.

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But according to EW.com writer Geoff Boucher, Ford has yet to ink a deal.

"Harrison Ford deal? My source says not yet," he shared on Twitter. "It will not be for weeks and perhaps months."

Responding to the report, Roger Friedman wrote on his showbiz411.com website: "I just got back and saw a story running wild about Harrison Ford playing Han Solo in the new Star Wars revival. No one seems sure about it," he wrote.

"I was told some time ago that Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill would be reprising their roles in Episode &, Obviously this new movie won't pick up where Return of the Jedi ended. It's some time in the future.

He continued, "Han, Princess Leia (with a presumably better hairstyle), and Luke Skywalker will be a lot older. Their children will be the new main characters."

Adding, "But suffice to say, the three main actors are definitely coming back."

Disney announced in October that it will revive the classic sci-fi franchise by releasing a new trilogy.

Star Wars: Episode VII, directed by J.J. Abrams, and based on a script written by Little Miss Sunshine scribe Michael Arndt, is scheduled for release in 2015. Episodes 8 and 9 will follow.

Speaking to ABC News in 2010, Ford famously said he wanted Solo to die at the end of Star Wars: Episode VI - The Return of the Jedi.

"I thought he should have died in the last one, just to give it some bottom; some gravitas. George [Lucas] didn't think there was any future in dead Han toys."

Adding, "I don't think there's a way to weave him back into the story."

Back in November, Entertainment Weekly reported that Ford was interested in coming back.

"Harrison is open to the idea of doing the movie and he's upbeat about it, all three of them are," a 'highly placed' source told the website.

Shortly after Disney confirmed that it will explore stand-alone Star Wars stories, EW.com reported that those projects could include movies about two of its most iconic characters - Solo and bounty hunter Boba Fett.

The website reported that one of the spin-off projects will focus on the early adventures of Solo, and would take place in the time between the two trilogies. The Fett film would be set in-between two of the three original films.

Last week, Ewan McGregor, who starred as a younger Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequel trilogy, said he would be willing to pick up his lightsaber once again.

McGregor told MTV News he liked the idea of a standalone film starring the Jedi knight.

"I think it's a good idea," McGregor said, adding: "The only bit that I could get away with doing is after the last one I made, Episode III, before Alec Guinness, there's that period where he's in the desert.

"That might be my window, there, to tell that story. I don't know what he did in the desert. We could make up some stuff."

He added, "I'd be up for it. Could be quite exciting. I'd be up for it, for sure, of course."

Check out McGregor's interview below:

Meanwhile, Star Trek veteran William Shatner is not pleased that Abrams (who has directed two Trek flicks) is helming the new Star Wars film.

"He's being a pig," Shatner told Movie Fanatic. "He's collecting the two franchises and holding them close to his vest. He's probably the most talented director of that ilk that we have, but he's gone too far this time."

Shatner added, "I think of him as a buddy of mine. I've taken him out for sushi. I think it's time for J.J. and I to have another sushi and let me put him straight about two of the largest franchises - and not employing me in either one of them is just foolhardy."

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