Samuel L Jackson has said that it would have been "interesting" had he been cast in the new Star Wars movies.

The actor played Mace Windu in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace in 1999 and reprised the role in Episodes II and III, but told ITV's Lorraine that he is no longer vying for a return to the new trilogy.

Asked if he wanted to appear in the new films, Jackson told Dan Wootton at the One for the Boys charity event: "No, not really - I thought I did and it would've been interesting but if I don't get the call, I have so many things going on that I can do.

"Hopefully that new era of Star Wars films will be as popular as the ones that we did and the ones that were done before."

Back in December 2012, Jackson said that he wanted to be in the new films, quipping: "I can come back as one-armed or a one-handed Jedi that's still around that didn't actually die.

"[I could] be a ghost hologram. I don't care. I just want to stay associated with the franchise. Not that I won't because I've been in three of them."

He later joked that he could play an uncredited Stormtrooper and said of Windu's apparent death: "He just went out the window. He's a Jedi! He could have landed on a ledge."

Asked about Harrison Ford's recent on-set accident, which may rule him out of work for several weeks, Jackson said: "I'm sure it wasn't because he wanted to or it was something he was doing.

"I'm sure something went terribly awry if that happened because most times insurance companies don't like us doing those things!"

12 Years a Slave actress Lupita Nyong'o and Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie were recently cast in Star Wars Episode VII, which is currently shooting at London's Pinewood Studios.

Episode VII's cast includes Star Wars veterans Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker, who will all reprise their roles from the original trilogy.

John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max von Sydow are newcomers to the space saga.

Star Wars Episode VII will open in cinemas on December 18, 2015.

Sam L. was awesome as Mace Windu. He could pull a Merl from Walking Dead, but have his hand replaced with a prosthetic covering containing a SABER CRYSTAL, in-which he can will the saber to turn on or off with a little mediclorean magic.

Jackson is a badass. But I'd rather them not try to make up a reason for his return when his character should have died.

I think it's fine to Mace Windu return in the extended universe.

Every character, every word spoken, in all 3 prequels were: dull, lifeless, sterile, boring, utter crap. Jackson is great; but those movies were putrid.

I liked Darth Maul

I really don't understand why people hate the prequels, I loved them.