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Matthew Rhys Shares Surprising Take on Voicing Han Solo in New Welsh Dub
Welsh actor Matthew Rhys reflects on the daunting task of dubbing Harrison Ford’s legendary Han Solo for a groundbreaking new language preservation project.
Stepping into the shoes of a cinematic legend is never easy, but for actor Matthew Rhys, taking on the iconic role of Han Solo for a special project felt downright forbidden. In a recent interview, the veteran actor shared his candid thoughts on voicing the galaxy’s favorite smuggler for the first-ever Welsh-language dub of the 1977 classic, Star Wars: A New Hope.
The Challenge of Voicing a Legend
Rhys, known for his distinguished career on screen, admitted that re-voicing Harrison Ford was an intimidating endeavor. During a conversation regarding his latest work, he described the process of becoming the Welsh-language Han Solo as being fundamentally sacrilegious. While the weight of the character’s legacy was heavy, Rhys highlighted a unique advantage of the medium:
- Voice acting provides a distinct sense of creative freedom that differs from on-camera performances.
- The project, officially titled Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd, aims to preserve language through global pop culture icons.
- Lucasfilm has been actively supporting these efforts, following previous initiatives like the Navajo-language dub.
Star Wars in Welsh: What to Expect
The Welsh version of the original Star Wars film is set for a special release on Christmas Day 2026. This initiative by Lucasfilm is part of a broader cultural project to bring the Star Wars universe to diverse linguistic audiences. By casting native speakers like Rhys, the studio ensures that the emotional core of the performance remains intact even when translated.
Who Has Portrayed Han Solo?
While Harrison Ford remains the definitive face of the character, the role of Han Solo has been interpreted by various actors over the decades across live-action and animation:
- Harrison Ford: The original smuggler, appearing in the original trilogy, the sequels, and a cameo in The Rise of Skywalker.
- Alden Ehrenreich: The lead in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), providing a look at the character’s early years.
- Voice Talent: Actors such as Kiff VandenHeuvel, Ross Marquand, and now Matthew Rhys have provided their voices for various animated projects and linguistic dubs.
As fans look forward to Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd, the addition of Matthew Rhys to the roster of actors who have inhabited the role serves as a reminder of how deep the impact of the Star Wars franchise truly reaches across the globe.
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