Disney is mining The Force for even more new films.

Walt Disney chief executive Bob Iger said screenwriters Larry Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are working on stand-alone Star Wars movies that are not part of the new trilogy already in the works.

"There has been speculation about some standalone films that have been in development, and I can confirm to you today that in fact we are working on a few stand-alone films," Iger told CNBC.

He said the movies would be based on "great Star Wars characters that are not part of the overall saga". The films would be released during the six-year period of the new trilogy, which starts in 2015 with Star Wars: Episode VII.

Disney confirmed last month that Star Trek director J.J. Abrams will direct the seventh instalment of the Star Wars saga.

Disney bought Star Wars maker Lucasfilm last year for more than four billion dollars.

The last Star Wars trilogy, a prequel to the original films, was released from 1999 to 2005.

Loading Slideshow

• Darth Vader

  Lucasfilm was bought by Disney, there is no way I am wearing Mickey Mouse ears.

• not Luke Johnson

  STAR WARS VII: THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE

• MC Frontalot

  Marvel, Lucasfilm... Disney systematically buying up things that were vital to me at age 12. Next they acquire Robotech, Now & Laters, air.

• The Dark Lord

  Does the Disney/Lucasfilm merger mean that Leia is now a Disney Princess?

• Andrew Tumilty

  Saw news about Disney & Star Wars, looked at calendar. Nicely done Mayans, you were obviously strong in the Force. #DisneyBuysLucasFilm

• Joe ~ Speedyf40

  It was like a million nerds (voices) crying out in unison then suddenly retweets! #DisneyBuysLucasfilm

• Professor Snape

  Now that Disney has bought Lucasfilm, I think we can all agree that we want to see Tony Stark kill Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars 7.

• SeeCat

  Jack Sparrow steals the Millennium Falcon. Hijinks ensue. #DisneyBuysLucasfilm

• Andy Gaffney

  I mean to quote my generation, this shit be cray cray #DisneyBuysLucasFilm

• Bam-Bam

  Star Wars Episode VII: The Jedi Wore Tennis Shoes #disneybuyslucasfilms

• Cesar R Cespedes

  I felt a disturbance in the Force, as if millions of geeks were shocked in an instant #DisneybuysLucasfilms

• FILM CRIT HULK

  NOW THAT DISNEY OWNS MARVEL + STAR WARS, HULK STARRING IN CROSSOVER MOVIE WHERE HULK SMASHES JAR JAR BINKS FOR 2 HOURS FOR, LIKE, NO REASON

• Jeremy Lambert

  Star Wars Episode 7: The Return of Miley Cyrus #DisneyBuysLucasFilms

• Brandon Mueller

  Truly the twitter sphere now has something else to explode about. #disneybuyslucasfilms

• The Dark Lord

  Lucasfilm has just been sold to Disney. So Disney is now in control of the Dark Side? I KNEW IT!

• Graeme

  I go for lunch and Disney buys Lucasfilm? WHAT THE WHAT?

• Bryan K

  I'm pretty sure this Disney-Lucasfilm news is breaking my corner of the internet.

• iUtsab

  Disney just bought Star Wars & LucasFilm. Meaning more princess than Jedi. #StarWars

• Dale McGladdery

  Let's face it, Lucas had already Disneyfied Stars Wars, anyway. This seems more up front. - Disney buying Lucasfilm http://t.co/22NiPWfv

• Greg Linch

  Not sure how to react to this -> “Princess Leia is now a member of the Disney Princess club, I guess.” -- @abtran in a Facebook comment

• Giordano Ciampini

  Toydarian Story #DisneyBuysLucasFilm

• Pedro Montojo

  #DisneyBuysLucasfilm Jar Jar Poppins

• Brian Flatley

  No one obviously told #Disney “IT’S A TRAP!!!” #Disneybuyslucasfilm

• Raymond Kemp

  There was a disturbance in the force like the voices of a million nerds were scilenced. #DisneybuysLucasfilm

• Hesiod Theogeny

  Now, if we can just get Disney to buy out JK Rowling.... #disneystarwars #disneypotter #disneybuyslucasfilm

• mhoye

  Emperor Palpatine's New Groove #DisneyBuysLucasFilm

• Andrés de Rojas

  May the Force be with... Mickey Mouse? #DisneyBuysLucasfilm

• Popehat

  A long time ago, in a galaxy fully complaint with SOPA and PIPA . . . . #DisneyBuysLucasfilm

• Hall'Owen Craig

  So... the Internet just exploded. #DisneyBuysLucasFilm

• Johnny

  I guess this means Jason Segal will make the next "Star Wars" movie. #DisneyBuysLucasFilm

• Uncle Jago

  Mulando Calrissian #DisneyBuysLucasFilm

• Kevin Rigdon

  Is there enough room at Disney World to build a Death Star? #DisneybuysLucasfilm

• Joe Dunn

  Medicloreans revealed to be Tinkerbell pixie dust. #DisneyBuysLucasFilm

• Lauren Alice Dykes

  I kinda get the feeing I might be the only one who is super-stoked about this... #DisneybuysLucasfilm

• AnimationFascination

  Pixar/Marvel/Indiana Jones/Star Wars crossover possibilities FTW? #DisneyBuysLucasfilm

• witchking42

  Oh bloody hell. A Disney Jar Jar Binks is all we need. #tweetfleet #disneybuyslucasfilm

• Pedro Montojo

  #DisneyBuysLucasfilm Jar Jar Poppins

• Tomeu X. Sastre

  #DisneyBuysLucasfilm Snow White and the 7 ewoks

• John Hardy

  RT @joshgreenman: Jar Jar, Goofy. Goofy, Jar Jar. #disneybuyslucasfilm

Also on HuffPost: