For a voice we know and love, it's the end of an era. After 40 years, James Earl Jones, who possesses the most recognisable voice in movie history, has decided to leave his role as Darth Vader.
By giving the rights to his voice to filmmakers that use artificial intelligence (AI), Jones, according to Vanity Fair, has taken the first steps toward retirement. According to Matthew Wood of Lucasfilm, the actor wants to "keep Vadar alive."
Wood told Vanity Fair, "He had stated he was looking into winding down this specific character." "So, how do we proceed?"
Jones has portrayed Vadar on both the big and small screens since the character first appeared in the 1977 Star Wars movie. In the most recent episode of the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+, he also provided the character's voice.
In the first movie, David Prowse was the first to portray the character in an all-Black ensemble, but Jones gave the role more nuance and complexity. And although some people may be surprised by his retirement, our eternal King of Zamunda won't be leaving without his flowers.
The actor is a well-known EGOT winner. He was nominated for his performance in The Great White Hope in 1970, and as a result, he was given an honorary Academy Award in 2011.
Other franchise stars have made appearances in previous years. Although Mark Hamill, Hayden Christensen, and Ewan McGregor have all returned to their roles at various points, Jones' acting career is about to come to an end.
The Cort Theater on Broadway was only recently renamed in Jones' honour. Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Norm Lewis, and director Kenny Leon were among the famous people that attended the ceremony. The 91-year-old star was not present, but he had received a personal tour of the recently renamed James Earl Jones Theater a few days earlier.
