Matthew Rhys has described his role as Han Solo in the first Welsh-language adaptation of Star Wars as "surreal" and "weird." The Cardiff-born actor, who has had a mammoth year with two Emmy nominations, is set to star in the Welsh version of the iconic 1977 sci-fi classic.
Welsh Star Wars Adaptation Announced
On Tuesday, August 4, it was announced that Lucasfilm and Disney, in partnership with S4C and the Welsh Government through Creative Wales, will produce a Welsh-language adaptation of Star Wars: A New Hope. The film, titled Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd, will broadcast on S4C and its platforms from Christmas Day.
Joining Matthew Rhys in the Welsh adaptation are Rhys Ifans as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Princess Leia, and Mark Lewis Jones as Darth Vader. Emerging talent Osian Morgan will provide the voice for Luke Skywalker.
Challenges with Translation
Speaking on The Interview, a podcast from the New York Times, Rhys told host Lulu Garcia-Navarro that working on the Welsh project was challenging due to the nature of the translation. He said: "What was weird is obviously, they'd had to translate all these things that we'd grown up with, knowing Star Wars."
He added: "I was saying in Welsh things like 'pelydr cyrchu'... it's kind of like 'tractor beam'. There were words I've never used before, and I was tripping on them. At the same time, it was this wildly familiar thing that I got to do. The whole thing was surreal. And then you go, I can't voice Harrison Ford!"
When asked if he ever spoke to the original Han Solo about taking on the role, Rhys replied: "No. I'm too scared."
Inspirations and Heroes
Rhys also discussed his Welsh acting heroes, including David Niven, whose mother was Welsh. He said Niven "was always so quietly self-assured and calm and said the right thing, even when a naked person ran behind him at the Oscars." The actor added: "I just wish I could be that person, and be gracious and effortless."
Matthew also explained that Port Talbot's Richard Burton is a major inspiration. He said: "Because he was the first to be very, very un-Welsh, which was arresting and inspiring." The Welshman explained that by "un-Welsh" he meant the way Burton rose to fame from nothing. He continued: "To me it was like, 'wow, we're allowed to be that'."
