How James Earl Jones Will Keep Voicing Darth Vader Even After His Death

The Obi-Wan Kenobi series may not be universally praised, especially given that one of the greatest Jedi Knights often struggles against random Stormtroopers. However, one undeniable highlight of the show was Darth Vader’s voice, which sounded exactly as it did in the ’80s. This was made possible by an AI company called Respeecher, after James Earl Jones signed over the rights to his archival voice work to Lucasfilm.

This groundbreaking move ensures that even after Jones passes on, his legendary voice will continue to resonate through the Star Wars universe, potentially long after humanity has ventured into new galaxies. According to a report from Vanity Fair, Jones made arrangements before his death to ensure his voice could be used in future Star Wars projects. The Ukrainian startup Respeecher utilizes AI technology to recreate Jones’ iconic voice, allowing Darth Vader to speak in Disney Plus’ Obi-Wan Kenobi and beyond.

Respeecher’s innovative process involves using sound bites to “clone” an actor’s voice, enabling studios to record new lines without the actor’s physical presence. Matthew Wood, supervising sound editor at Skywalker Sound, shared that Jones had expressed a desire to step away from the role, but with his approval, AI technology would preserve his voice for future projects. The result was a perfect recreation of Darth Vader’s voice from 45 years ago, allowing audiences to hear the familiar tone they’ve known for decades.

Notably, this wasn’t Lucasfilm’s first collaboration with Respeecher. The same technology was used to recreate a younger version of Luke Skywalker’s voice for The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett using recordings from Mark Hamill’s early work. This approach shows the vast potential of AI in preserving beloved voices for future generations.

As AI tools like Respeecher, Voicemod, and Veritone continue to advance, the digital recreation of celebrity voices could become increasingly common. For James Earl Jones, this technology immortalizes his portrayal of Darth Vader, ensuring that one of cinema’s most iconic villains will continue to captivate audiences for years to come.