Star Wars Episode IV to be dubbed into Welsh for 50th anniversary
For the 50th anniversary, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope will be dubbed into Welsh, with actors Matthew Rhys and Rhys Ifans providing voices for characters.
The Full Story
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For the 50th anniversary of the original Star Wars film, Episode IV: A New Hope is being dubbed into Welsh for the first time. The Welsh-language version will be broadcast on the Welsh broadcaster S4C and its platforms from Christmas Day. A premiere is planned for Cardiff in November, followed by cinema screenings across Wales.
The project was initiated by Disney and Lucasfilm, which had previously produced dubs in Native American languages. A senior figure at Lucasfilm who is a fluent Welsh speaker suggested doing a Welsh version. The dubbing involved actors Matthew Rhys as Han Solo, Rhys Ifans as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Amy Ffion Edwards as Princess Leia. Hifan, the brother of Rhys Ifans, voices C-3PO.
In an interview, Hifan described being approached about the project four months ago and having to keep it secret from his Star Wars-fan son. He spent three days in the dubbing suite, with direction from representatives of Lucasfilm and Disney. He noted that Welsh is a poetic language that often uses more words than English, making it tricky to fit the English lines into fewer Welsh words. The translators also had to handle the intergalactic gobbledygook. Hifan said the themes of a republic of rebels fighting an imperial force resonate with Wales's own historical struggles.
The Welsh dub is one of over 50 language versions of the film. Hifan said he would be on board for dubbing the other episodes if the project continues.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News |
|---|---|
| Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope will be dubbed into Welsh for its 50th anniversary, with Matthew Rhys as Han Solo, Rhys Ifans as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Amy Ffion Edwards as Princess Leia, and will be broadcast on S4C from Christmas Day with a premiere in Cardiff in November. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The channel led with a brief news summary of the Star Wars Welsh dub before moving into an extended interview with Hifan, the actor voicing C-3PO. The focus was on his personal experience, the challenges of translation, and the cultural significance for Wales. The tone was conversational and celebratory, with the interviewer asking about family dynamics and the generational debate over which Star Wars films are best.
- “I'm a child of the 70s and 80s so I'm a massive Star Wars fan and I first of all received an email about four months ago telling me about the project and I blew my mind a bit”
- “Welsh is a very poetic language and we tend to use more words than English because we're far more descriptive and imaginative. So trying to squeeze those English lines into as few Welsh words as possible was tricky”
- “It's about a republic full of rebels fighting against an imperial force to try and keep their Jedi way of living alive and it's been a constant struggle for us for centuries”
Broadcast Timeline
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