Lucasfilm and Disney are partnering with Welsh-language broadcaster S4C and Creative Wales to produce the first Welsh dub of the 1977 sci-fi classic Star Wars, titled Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd. Scheduled to air on Christmas Day, the project features high-profile Welsh actors voicing iconic characters ahead of the film’s 50th anniversary.
Nearly five decades after its original theatrical release, the galaxy far, far away is getting a distinctively Welsh transformation. The iconic space fantasy blockbuster originally known as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
is undergoing its first Welsh language dub, slated to hit television screens and digital platforms across Wales on Christmas Day. The announcement was made public during the National Eisteddfod, cementing a major cultural milestone for Welsh speakers and fans of the franchise alike.
Star-Studded Welsh Cast Steps Into Iconic Roles
The newly minted Welsh version, officially titled Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd, brings together an impressive roster of internationally recognized Welsh talent to step into the boots of the franchise’s legendary heroes and villains. Matthew Rhys takes on the role of the roguish smuggler Han Solo, while Rhys Ifans lends his voice to the wise Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Princess Leia is voiced by Aimee-Ffion Edwards.
The cast also features rising talent Osian Morgan as the farmboy-turned-hero Luke Skywalker, alongside Star Wars veteran Mark Lewis Jones—who previously appeared in Episode VIII – The Last Jedi—taking on the booming, heavy-breathing presence of Darth Vader. Additional casting announcements include Rhys Ifans’s brother, Llŷr Ifans, voicing the protocol droid C-3PO, Nia Roberts as Aunt Beru, Richard Harrington as Grand Moff Tarkin, Owain Arthur as Red Leader, and Rhodri Meilir as Gold Leader.
A Collaborative Effort Between Lucasfilm and Welsh Partners
The ambitious dubbing initiative is a direct partnership between Lucasfilm and Disney in collaboration with S4C and the Welsh Government via its Creative Wales agency. Michael Kohn, the director of distribution operations at Lucasfilm, is producing the project alongside director Ellyn Stern.
Kohn noted that he has participated in several indigenous language dubs of Star Wars over the years aimed at preserving and revitalizing interest in learning local languages. Pointing to the international success of prior community-focused translations, Kohn emphasized that celebrating the Welsh language through the lens of Star Wars was an opportunity the studio could not pass up.
For Lucasfilm Co-President Lynwen Brennan—who was born and raised in Pembrokeshire, Wales—the project carries deep personal significance. Brennan noted that the company had never before produced a translation of the franchise into Welsh, expressing gratitude for the chance to collaborate with local talent as the film approaches its milestone anniversary in 2027.
“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.”
Lynwen Brennan, Lucasfilm Co-President
Deepening Wales’s Behind-the-Scenes History With the Franchise
While this marks the first time dialogue will be spoken in Cymraeg, Wales has a surprisingly robust history embedded within the broader production history of the Star Wars universe. Most famously, a full-size version of the Millennium Falcon was secretly constructed out of wood and steel in 1979 inside a hangar at Pembroke Dock for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Though built under the cautious code name Magic Roundabout
, local residents were well aware of what was actually taking place inside the hangar.
That history has continued into modern productions. Scenes for Lucasfilm’s fantasy film Willow
—both the original movie and the subsequent television series—as well as the Disney+ series Star Wars: The Acolyte, were filmed in Wales. S4C Chief Executive Geraint Evans remarked that the stars truly aligned when Lucasfilm approached the broadcaster, calling the collaboration a fantastic avenue to showcase both the Welsh language and local acting talent on a global stage.
Cultural Strategy and Iconic Translations
The project aligns neatly with broader cultural goals inside the region. First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, who is fluent in Welsh, reflected on the cultural weight of the announcement by sharing that the original movie was among the most influential cinematic touchstones of his childhood.
“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.”
Rhun ap Iorwerth, First Minister of Wales
Audiences across Wales will be able to experience these translations when Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd debuts on S4C and its accompanying viewing platforms on Christmas Day.
Worth a look
