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Credit: LucasfilmA new era of Darth Vader is here, and it’s one that will go down in history for all the wrong reasons.
Darth Vader and James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones’ legendary voice has been synonymous with Darth Vader since the character’s first appearance in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977). Though physically portrayed by David Prowse (and later others), it was Jones’ deep, commanding baritone that gave Vader his unmistakable menace.
Over the decades, Jones returned to voice the character in Star Wars: Episode V–The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Star Wars: Episode VI–Return of the Jedi (1983), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), and most recently in the Disney+ show, Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022). However, over the last few years, developments in technology have introduced a new chapter in how Darth Vader speaks.
In 2022, it was confirmed that James Earl Jones had effectively retired from actively voicing Darth Vader, having given his blessing for future use of his voice through artificial intelligence.
This transition was made possible through a partnership with Ukrainian AI company Respeecher, which uses archival recordings and advanced voice synthesis to recreate his vocal performance. The company first applied this technology to mimic young Mark Hamill’s voice for The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett before turning to Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Jones reportedly signed off on using his vocal likeness, allowing Lucasfilm to preserve his iconic voice without requiring his active participation.
According to a 2022 Vanity Fair interview with Obi-Wan Kenobi sound editor Matthew Wood, Jones “was looking into winding down this particular character,” but wanted to keep Vader sounding authentic for future audiences. Using Respeecher’s tech, the production team generated Vader’s lines with a chilling fidelity to Jones’ original delivery.
“When he ultimately presented Jones with Respeecher’s work, the actor signed off on using his archival voice recordings to keep Vader alive and vital even by artificial means—appropriate, perhaps, for a character who is half mechanical,” Vanity Fair wrote back in 2022.
This shift reflects a broader trend in Hollywood, where AI is increasingly used in filmmaking. Following the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes in 2023, the use of AI in film, TV, and videogames, among other media, has come under intense scrutiny.
Earlier this year, criticism was levied against Academy Award-nominated movies The Brutalist (2024) and Emilia Perez (2024) for using AI technologies to enhance Hungarian accents and singing abilities, respectively.
However, it would be surprising if James Earl Jones, who sadly passed away at the age of 93 in September 2024, would appreciate how his voice is being used in a new initiative.
Darth Vader Goes R-Rated in GALACTIC BATTLE!
On May 2, Epic Games’ flagship multi-platform game Fortnite launched its new Star Wars-themed season, GALACTIC BATTLE! During the event, players can visit Star Wars locations on the map, including the Resistance and First Order bases, as well as encounter famous characters like Darth Vader, Captain Phasma, General Grievous, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and more.
Up until this past 24 hours, the Darth Vader character was a programmed character that players could defeat to gain his lightsaber. Now, Epic Games has updated the Star Wars villain with its first AI NPC model, able to talk to players directly and join their party. On paper, this addition is a game-changing one for Fortnite–however, if the last few hours are anything to go by, AI Vader will be cancelled very soon.
“Darth Vader has touched down as a boss in Fortnite Battle Royale,” Epic Games said in its announcement. “Recruit him and your whole team will be able to talk to the Dark Lord. He’ll respond!” According to the official FAQ, the AI is driven by Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash model and ElevenLabs’ Flash v2.5 model.
Epic has listed the protections it has put in place for children, as well as explained that Darth Vader will only be able to communicate in English.
The estate of James Earl Jones also weighed in on this new partnership, telling StarWars.com they hoped it connected the late acting icon with new generations.
“James Earl felt that the voice of Darth Vader was inseparable from the story of Star Wars, and he always wanted fans of all ages to continue to experience it,” the family stated. “We hope that this collaboration with Fortnite will allow both longtime fans of Darth Vader and newer generations to share in the enjoyment of this iconic character.”
But since his arrival in Fortnite, more and more updates have come to light regarding the character–and he has since gone viral. An earlier video showed Vader dropping the F-bomb, shocking players, with another, arguably racist, viral encounter showing him saying that the Spanish language is “a useful tongue for spice traders and smugglers.” A video from IGN (@IGN) rounds up some of the most shocking statements:
Fortnite launched an AI-powered Darth Vader modeled after the voice of James Earl Jones and it’s going as well as you might expect:
Fortnite launched an AI-powered Darth Vader modeled after the voice of James Earl Jones and it's going as well as you might expect: pic.twitter.com/I8mMq76eEB
— IGN (@IGN) May 16, 2025
The Fortnite X account has replied to multiple users who have shared their video clips online, saying that it has “hotfixed” the issues shared.
Darth Vader’s Star Wars History
Darth Vader, one of cinema’s most enduring and fearsome icons, has loomed large over the Star Wars galaxy since his ominous debut in George Lucas’ 1977 classic, A New Hope. But the story of Vader begins years earlier, when he was still known as Anakin Skywalker—a gifted podracing slave boy, played by Jake Lloyd, on Tatooine, introduced in Star Wars: Episode I–The Phantom Menace (1999).
Discovered by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and believed to be the Chosen One destined to bring balance to the Force, Anakin’s path quickly became one of power, passion, and pain.
As portrayed by Hayden Christensen in Star Wars: Episode II–Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III–Revenge of the Sith (2005), Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader was fueled by fear and the manipulations of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid).
Betraying the Jedi Order, Anakin fell to the dark side, leading the brutal purge of his former allies and dueling his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), on the volcanic world of Mustafar—an encounter that left him broken, encased in the now-iconic black armor, and reborn as the Emperor’s right hand.
In the original trilogy, Vader’s story took on mythic proportions. From his chilling presence aboard the Death Star in A New Hope, to the unforgettable twist in The Empire Strikes Back—where he reveals to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), “I am your father”—Vader’s legend only deepened.
Ultimately, his redemption came in Return of the Jedi, when he turned against his master to save his son, sacrificing himself and finally restoring balance to the Force. Decades later, fans saw Vader’s terrifying return in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), in a now-famous hallway massacre scene that reignited the Sith Lord’s fearsome reputation.
That legacy continued to expand in Obi-Wan Kenobi , where Christensen stepped back into the role alongside James Earl Jones’ legendary voice, showcasing Vader’s relentless hunt for his old master and further exploring the emotional toll of his fall from grace.
Vader’s reach hasn’t just been limited to the big screen. In animation, his past as Anakin Skywalker has been richly explored in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a series that dives into his time as a Jedi General and mentor to Ahsoka Tano.
Their bond—and its heartbreaking fracture—echoes into Star Wars Rebels, where Vader battles Ahsoka in a jaw-dropping duel that peels back the mask of the monster.
Most recently, Tales of the Jedi, Tales of the Empire, and Ahsoka have kept Vader’s shadow alive, blending visions of Anakin’s heroism and darkness in powerful, emotional sequences. Across films, series, and generations, Darth Vader continues to captivate fans as a symbol of tragedy, power, and ultimately, redemption.
Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker–formerly Darth Vader–in the upcoming second season of Dave Filoni’s Ahsoka.
How do you feel about Darth Vader being used this way? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!