Ladbible X Whatsapp
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
What will happen to Darth Vader character as James Earl Jones made agreement with Lucasfilm before he died

Home> Entertainment> Film

Published 10:27 10 Sep 2024 GMT+1

What will happen to Darth Vader character as James Earl Jones made agreement with Lucasfilm before he died

James Earl Jones passed away yesterday aged 93

Joe Harker

Joe Harker

James Earl Jones, the voice of iconic Star Wars villain Darth Vader, has sadly died at the age of 93.

His agent confirmed that he passed away yesterday morning (9 September) at his New York home, and tributes have been pouring in from all over the place including a particularly touching one from Mark Hamill.

The legendary performer's final screen credit was for providing the voice of Darth Vader in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, though he had taken steps to ensure that if they want to use his voice for Vader then they can.

He officially retired from the role in September 2022 following the release of Obi-Wan Kenobi, though according to Vanity Fair the Vader voice you hear in that show is the work of Ukrainian company Respeecher.

Advert

James Earl Jones acted as a 'benevolent godfather' to guide the recreation of his sonorous speaking voice, but in his final credit for the Star Wars saga his voice was recreated with the help of technology.

James Earl Jones has sadly died aged 93 (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
James Earl Jones has sadly died aged 93 (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Should Star Wars ever feel compelled to bring back Darth Vader at some point, and you expect that they likely will do, they will be able to use his voice again and again.

That's because Jones signed off on his voice being recreated through AI for Darth Vader's performances, meaning audiences may continue to hear it throughout the years.

Essentially, should Star Wars wish to use James Earl Jones' voice again for Darth Vader then they can.

Advert

It's certainly not the first time Star Wars has used technology to recreate the likeness of a late performer.

In the 2016 movie Rogue One the part of Tarkin was played by Guy Henry, but his face was digitally altered to look like the late Peter Cushing, while in the same film Carrie Fisher's younger likeness was superimposed over the face of Ingvild Deila to play Princess Leia.

If Star Wars wishes to trot Darth Vader out again they're allowed to use AI to recreate James Earl Jones' voice (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
If Star Wars wishes to trot Darth Vader out again they're allowed to use AI to recreate James Earl Jones' voice (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Back in the days of the original Star Wars trilogy the man in the suit was David Prowse, who older Brits might also remember as the Green Cross Man.

His voice wasn't quite right for the imposing Sith Lord, so James Earl Jones provided the iconic voice of Darth Vader and was sometimes working off a different script to Prowse.

Advert

During filming for The Empire Strikes Back to keep the revelation that Darth Vader was Luke's father a secret only a handful of people knew the truth and a different line was said on set, with the big 'I am your father' reveal being dubbed in later.

Prowse didn't actually know what the true line was until he got to see the movie after it was completed.

When Vader's mask comes off so that Vader can look upon his son with his own eyes it was actor Sebastian Shaw who played that role.

Since then there have been others who have inhabited the suit on screen and provided the voice in various things like video games, but the voice in the movies has always been James Earl Jones.

Featured Image Credit: Lucasfilm/Jim Spellman/WireImage

Topics: Star Wars, TV and Film, Technology, AI

Joe Harker
Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

X

@MrJoeHarker

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
11 hours ago
  • 9 hours ago

    Kesha said infamous red carpet incident with Jerry Seinfeld was the ‘saddest moment of her life’

    Jerry Seinfeld said 'no thanks' to Kesha during a red carpet event

    Entertainment
  • 9 hours ago

    Movie fans say they still think about ‘traumatising’ but ‘amazing’ film 14 years after watching

    The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brady Corbet and Michelle Trachtenberg

    Entertainment
  • 9 hours ago

    Ex-Superman Dean Cain hits out on ‘woke’ new version of the film after James Gunn called superhero an ‘immigrant’

    Cain also took issue with James Gunn changing Superman's motto

    Entertainment
  • 11 hours ago

    Follow up to The Office is coming to TV incredibly soon

    Expect to see a fan-favourite character pop-up in the follow-up series

    Entertainment
  • James Earl Jones made huge mistake by accepting £5,000 payment for first Darth Vader role
  • Mark Hamill posts perfect two-word tribute to James Earl Jones as Star Wars co-star dies aged 93
  • What will happen if Will Smith is nominated for an Oscar after being banned for 10 years
  • Ruth Jones hints at worrying fate for Gavin & Stacey character in upcoming Christmas finale