Hamill and Fisher knew about Star Wars sequels last year

Mark Hamill has said that he knew about the plans to make a series of 'Star Wars' sequels as long ago as last year.

The Luke Skywalker actor said that both he and Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia, met with George Lucas to discuss the plans.

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But he says that he did not know anything about the planned deal between Lucasfilm and Disney.

“Last August, he asked Carrie and I to have lunch with him and we did,” he told Entertainment Weekly.

“I thought he was going to talk about either his retirement or the 'Star Wars' TV series that I’ve heard about - or the 3-D releases.

“So when he said, 'We decided we’re going to do Episodes VII, VIII, and IX,' I was just gobsmacked. 'What? Are you nuts?!'

“[Lucas] was just talking about writers and the fact that he wouldn’t be directing. I guess he wanted us to know before everybody else knew. He said, ‘Now you can’t tell anybody!’ Even now I’m nervous about saying anything. I just don’t know!”

Hamill, who may or may not have a role in the forthcoming films, added that he's come round to the idea.

“I can see both sides of it. Because in a way, there was a beginning, a middle, and an end and we all lived happily ever after and that’s the way it should be - and it’s great that people have fond memories, if they do have fond memories.

“But on the other hand, there’s this ravenous desire on the part of the true believers to have more and more and more material. It’s one of those things: people either just don’t care for it or are passionate about it. I guess that defines what cult movies are all about. We’ll see.”

The first new 'Star Wars' film, the seventh in the series, is due for 2015.