Star Wars: A New Hope dubbed into Welsh for the first time

By Casey Cooper-Fiske, Press Association Senior Entertainment Reporter

Star Wars: A New Hope has been dubbed into the Welsh language for the first time.

The new version of the first film released in the franchise, which came out in 1977, was produced by Lucasfilm and Disney in collaboration with Welsh language TV channel S4C and the Welsh Government to celebrate the film’s 50th anniversary next year.

Welsh first minister Rhun Ap Iorwerth said: “Star Wars was one of the most influential films of my childhood and its appeal shows no sign of waning, captivating audiences to this day.

“To see a Welsh language version of this iconic film, using the talents of some of our best actors, is fantastic. We already produce world-class TV and film here in Wales and I’m really looking forward to seeing Star Wars in Welsh later this year.”

The voices will be provided by Welsh actors including Matthew Rhys as Han Solo, Rhys Ifans as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Princess Leia, while Mark Lewis Jones, who appeared in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), takes on the role of Darth Vader, and Osian Morgan voices Luke Skywalker.

Lucasfilm co-president Lynwen Brennan, who was born and raised in Wales, said: “Wales has such a rich history of storytelling and a beautiful lyrical language.

“We have never before had a translation of Star Wars into Welsh and I am so thankful that in celebration of our 50th anniversary we have been able to work with some incredible Welsh talent to make that a reality.

“Welsh speakers will finally be able to enjoy the film in our native language and my hope is that it will have the same emotional impact as if you were watching the film again for the first time.”

Wales’s involvement in the Star Wars film franchise includes a full-size Millennium Falcon being built at Pembroke Dock in 1979 for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), as well as scenes from Lucasfilm’s Willow, both the movie and series, and Star Wars: The Acolyte shot in Wales.

Star Wars: A New Hope – which was the first film to be released in the series but the fourth film chronologically in what is known as the Skywalker Saga, meaning the films released between 1977 and 1983 – stars Mark Hamill as Luke and Harrison Ford as Han Solo.

Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd will be broadcast on S4C and across its platforms from Christmas Day onwards.