Proud nerds everywhere were skeptical last October at the news that big-budget movie maker Walt Disney Co. bought the rights to George Lucas’ “Star Wars” franchise. A month ago, they announced plans to produce “Star Wars Episode VII” with director J.J. Abrams for summer 2015. Now, Disney recently unveiled new plans to create “Star Wars” spin-offs.

According to USA Today, the chairman and CEO of Disney Bob Iger revealed in an interview that Disney is in fact working on stand-alone films based on characters from the world of Star Wars. These movies will not be a part of the trilogy being kicked off by Episode VII.

Two of the spin-off projects will focus on the origin stories of the hero Han Solo and the bounty hunter Boba Fett, according to Entertainment Weekly. These spin-off projects are still early in the works, however, so these plans are still subject to change.

EW’s sources indicate that the Han Solo film would take place in between “Revenge of the Sith” (Episode III) and “A New Hope” (Episode IV), making it possible for Harrison Ford to appear in the flick. A new lead actor would be needed, however, to play the young Han.

Boba Fett’s feature, on the other hand, could be set in between “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back” (Episode V) or between “The Empire Strikes back” and “Return of the Jedi” (Episode VI). Since the character never took off his helmet in the original films, finding an actor for the part does not present much of a problem.

Both films would allow everyone’s favorite villain Darth Vader to return since they are slotted to occur during the time period of the original saga. It would also allow for the infamous Jabba the Hutt to make an appearance.

Iger confirmed in his interview that the screenwriters working on the project are Lawrence Kasdan, screenwriter behind “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and Simon Kinberg (“Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and “Sherlock Holmes”). So far there is no indication of who would direct the films.

Rumors are flying as to which other characters may get their own spin-offs. The LA Times reported that Frank Oz, voice of Yoda since “The Empire Strikes Back”, is interested in playing the part again if a spin-off is announced saying, “He’s in my heart. I know Yoda very deeply.”

Ewan McGregor, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi for Episodes I-III, has also shown his support for the spin-offs. Interested in signing on as the beloved Jedi Master, McGregor told MTV News “I think it’s a good idea.” The actor even suggested a plot for the film, referring to the unknown story of how Kenobi lived on Tatooine before meeting Luke Skywalker in “A New Hope.”

According to Iger, they will be great for the fans “because there will be more “Star Wars” basically released in the atmosphere that is new and fresh.” Hopefully, fans will eagerly await the new films that promise to help keep the “Star Wars” world alive for many years to come.