Harrison Ford 'looking forward' to Star Wars reunion: 'I think it's going to happen'

Harrison Ford used to be reluctant to discuss his days as Han Solo.

But now - with a new series of Star Wars films in the pipeline - the 70-year-old actor says he is "looking forward" to returning to the science fiction franchise.

Ford insists he hasn't signed a contract to reprise his role as Solo - who he played in the original trilogy from 1977 to 1983 - in the forthcoming new films, but he is keen to take part and can't wait to get started.

He told WGN 9: "I think it's almost true, I'm looking forward to it. It's not in the bag yet, but I think it's happening."

Only three years ago, Ford said "I'm done with him," when quizzed about his role as Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy and has referred to the character as "Ham Yoyo".

Ford's new comments come soon after George Lucas - who sold the franchise to Disney last year, but will take on a consultancy role for Episode VII - let slip he has asked original Star Wars trilogy cast members Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher to reprise their iconic roles.

He revealed: "We had already signed Mark and Carrie and Harrison - or we were pretty much in final stages of negotiation. So I called them to say, 'Look, this is what's going on'.

"Maybe I'm not supposed to say that. I think they want to announce that with some big whoop-de-do, but we were negotiating with them."

However, Lucas appeared to realise he had said too much about his work with producer Kathleen Kennedy to bring new director J.J. Abrams' follow-up film to life for its 2015 release date, and was quick to backtrack.

He teased: "I won't say whether the negotiations were successful or not."

Fisher recently joked she would be back as heroine Princess Leia, the twin sister of main character Luke Skywalker (Hamill), but her representatives subsequently downplayed the claims.

Hamill also said he wants to get the "whole gang" of original actors back together for in the new movie.