Star Wars: A New Hope is receiving a Welsh-language dub for the first time in history. This project marks the 50th anniversary of the franchise and will arrive on the S4C channel starting this Christmas Day.
The film, retitled Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd, features a voice cast of prominent Welsh actors. Matthew Rhys provides the voice for Han Solo, with Rhys Ifans voicing Obi-Wan Kenobi. Aimee-Ffion Edwards plays Princess Leia, while Mark Lewis Jones portrays Darth Vader.
Production involves a collaboration between Lucasfilm, Disney, S4C, and the Welsh government. The announcement took place at the National Eisteddfod, where officials noted that the project celebrates both the legacy of the film and the lyrical nature of the Welsh language.
Lucasfilm co-president Lynwen Brennan noted that the goal is to provide Welsh speakers a new way to experience the classic story. The dub aims to maintain the emotional impact of the original 1977 release while honoring local linguistic culture.