James Earl Jones Steps Back from Voicing 'Star Wars' ' Darth Vader: Report

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

James Earl Jonesis reportedly no longer the voice ofStar Wars' most iconic villain.

The actor, 91, has given Lucasfilm and its parent company, Disney, the go-ahead to use his voice in digital recreations of the iconic villain he has played for more than 40 years.

Jones has been the voice of the formidable Darth Vader since the first film, later subtitledA New Hope, was released in 1977. He has never worn the suit, helmet and cape, but has provided iconic lines like the sequel’s reveal “I am your father” toMark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker.

Respeecher uses archival recordings and an A.I. to create new dialogue using voices of performers from the past. Jones has been recorded “dozens of times,” Matthew Wood of Skywalker Sound toldVanity Fair.

“He had mentioned he was looking into winding down this particular character,” Wood said. “So how do we move forward?”

Jones has signed off on the technology, but has still guided the performances used in recentStar Warsofferings — the latest being the Disney+ seriesObi-Wan Kenobi.Wood refers to Jones as “a benevolent godfather.”

Reps for Jones did not immediately respond to PEOPLE to clarify whether the actor would be stepping away from the role entirely, or continue on in this consulting capacity.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

In June, Jones returned as the voice of Darth Vader forepisode 3of the Disney+ limited series, which is set 10 years after the events of the 2005 filmRevenge of the Sith.

The latest episode was the first time audiences were reintroduced to Darth Vader when he comes head to head with the titular Jedi Master (Ewan McGregor).

WhileHayden Christensenmade his long-awaited return to the Sith Lord’s legendary black garb in the series, playing the younger Anakin Skywalker after he’s crossed over to the Dark Side, Jones famously voiced the older Vader in the first threeStar Warsfilms.

Up next for Jones is the honor of having his name grace an iconic Broadway theater in New York City.

In March, the Shubert Organization announced in anews releasethat the 110-year-old Cort Theatre will be renamed after the legendary actor in celebration of his lifetime contributions to Broadway and the entertainment community.

Jones got his Broadway start in 1957, making his Cort Theatre debut in the 1958 playSunrise at Campobello. In the successful six-and-a-half-decade career that followed, he has starred in 21 Broadway shows, become anEGOT(an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) winner and received the Kennedy Center Honor.

​​Jones scored his Tony awards — twice winning best actor in a play — withThe Great White Hopein 1969 andFencesin 1987, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.

Through his illustrious career, Jones has also been awarded the National Medal of Arts and seven Drama Desk Awards.

source: people.com