Diminutive Jedi master rumoured to be first of several characters from Star Wars universe in line to feature in his own spinoff film

An iconic figure he is, beloved of generations of children and adults alike. Now Yoda is rumoured to be getting his own spinoff movie as part of Disney's new series of Star Wars films.

News of the diminutive Jedi master's elevation from supporting character status comes courtesy of the US blog Ain't It Cool News, and follows the announcement of a new trilogy of Star Wars films after Disney purchased all rights to the series for $4.05bn last October.

The studio announced last month that Star Trek director JJ Abrams will take on the first movie, Episode VII, and screenwriters are already in place to take on the two subsequent instalments. However, there have also been regular rumours that Disney plans spinoff films in a similar vein to the plethora of character-based superhero movies that have emerged in the past few years under its wholly-owned Marvel Studios banner. Now it looks as if Yoda could be coming out of retirement as part of plans put in place by new LucasFilm president Kathleen Kennedy.

"To start with, they're going to focus on established characters and do solo films," writes Ain't It Cool editor Harry Knowles, thought to be close to the top brass at the now Disney-owned LucasFilm (he was one of the first journalists invited to view Lucas's poorly-received prequel series a decade ago).

"The first standalone film is going to centre upon Yoda. At this stage, specifics are sparse, but Kathleen Kennedy is putting together a Star Wars slate.

"I've also heard tale of a Jabba story that Lucas has floated to some of his buddies. But word is Yoda is first."

Yoda featured in all three of the prequel movies, though in the last two he was depicted in CGI rather than in original puppet mode, much to the chagrin of some older fans. The character was voiced (and controlled for the classic trilogy) by Frank Oz, the former Jim Henson collaborator who also brought Muppets such as Miss Piggy to life. It is not known whether the 68-year-old, who has made a career as a film director in recent years, is in line to return to the role.

A Yoda movie could potentially throw a spanner in the works for Disney's previously announced plans to set the new Star Wars trilogy after 1983's Return of the Jedi. Were the Jedi master to appear in his own movie before turning up in the new trilogy, it would require some serious recon work, because Yoda died in that film. Nevertheless, the series has shown in the past that death need not be a barrier to returning in a future instalment. Despite being killed off in the 1977 debut instalment, Alec Guinness played Obi Wan Kenobi in two more Star Wars films.

• This article was amended on Tuesday 5 February 2013. Yoda died at the end of Return of the Jedi, not The Empire Strikes Back as we originally said above. This has been corrected.