NEW YORK (AP) – It appears the Force is still strong with Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher.

In an interview posted online Thursday, George Lucas said the trio from the original ``Star Wars’’ trilogy will reprise their iconic roles of Hans Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in the new ``Star Wars’’ film.

Lucas told Bloomberg Businessweek that all three were signed for the new ``Episode VII’’ film in advance of Lucasfilm’s $4 billion purchase by Disney.

``We had already signed Mark and Carrie and Harrison; or were pretty much in the final stages of negotiation,’’ Lucas said.

He added: ``Maybe I’m not supposed to say that. I think they want to announce that with some big whoop-de-do.’’

In an interview posted Wednesday with Florida’s Palm Beach Illustrated, Fisher said that she’ll be coming back as Princess Leia.

Disney’s Lucasfilm was coy in response. In a statement, a spokesperson for the company said, ``George couldn’t say whether they were signed or not and neither can we. As Yoda said, `Always in motion is the future.’ Stay tuned.’’