Exciting news for Star Wars fans! For the first time ever ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ will be dubbed into Welsh!
The Welsh version will premiere on S4C this Christmas Day, just in time to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary!
Welsh language broadcaster S4C and Creative Wales announced the project, in partnership with Lucasfilm and Disney, at the Eisteddfod Y Garreg Las in Llantwd, Pembrokeshire.
Featuring an incredible cast including Matthew Rhys as Han Solo (originally played by Harrison Ford), Rhys Ifans as Obi-Wan Kenobi (originally played by Alec Guinness), and Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Princess Leia (played in the original by Carrie Fisher) - the project aims to celebrate the Welsh language and culture.
Star Wars veteran Mark Lewis Jones (who has been filming in Tenby recently for the show Old Town Murders) takes on the role of Darth Vader.
Director Ellyn Stern and producer Michael Kohn expressed their excitement about preserving and revitalizing interest in the language through this iconic film.
"We're really excited about this project for many reasons," said Kohn.
"I've been involved in a few indigenous dubs of Star Wars over the years that aim to preserve and revitalise interest in learning the language.
"The chance to celebrate the Welsh language through Star Wars is one we couldn't pass up."
Pembrokeshire has a strong connection to the Star Wars franchise, with former Tenby Greenhill student Lynwen Brennan now co-president of Lucasfilm.
Lynwen [nee Griffith], who was awarded Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2017 for her contributions in support of the UK’s visual effects industry; was educated in Penally VC School, and Tenby’s Secondary School, before heading to the Royal Holloway University of London, where she gained a Bachelor of Science.
Lynwen’s late father Colin Griffith was headmaster of Penally School. Her mum Dorothy, affectionately known as Dot, passed away in 2024. Lynwen is the sister of Gareth Griffith, and Sian Lowe.
She 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."
Hollywood’s most iconic starship, the Millennium Falcon was also built in a Pembroke Dock aircraft hangar in 1979 for The Empire Strikes Back, the second film in the original Star Wars trilogy.
S4C's chief executive Geraint Evans said: "We were thrilled when Lucasfilm approached us to partner on producing a Welsh version of Star Wars: A New Hope.
"It's such an iconic film to so many generations of fans across the world so we're delighted to be working with them and Creative Wales to turn this ambition into reality."
Wales’ First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth remarked: "To see a Welsh language version of this iconic film, using the talents of some of our best actors, is fantastic.”
Comments
This article has no comments yet. Be the first to leave a comment.