Matthew Rhys voices Han Solo in first Welsh-language Star Wars dub

Actor Matthew Rhys has provided the Welsh-language voice for the character Han Solo in a new project titled ‘Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd’. The production marks the first Welsh-language dub of the 1977 film, ‘Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope’.

Rhys described the experience of dubbing Harrison Ford’s original performance as “almost sacrilegious,” noting the weight of stepping into such an iconic role. He also highlighted the unique creative freedom found in voice work compared to on-camera acting.

The project is part of a Lucasfilm initiative to preserve linguistic diversity by bringing the franchise to various specific language audiences, similar to a previous Navajo-language dub. The Welsh version is scheduled to debut on December 25, 2026, via the Welsh broadcaster S4C and its digital platforms.