ElevenLabs, the AI audio generation company valued at $11bn, has unveiled its first in-house audiobook production: a 13-hour retelling of Homer's The Odyssey featuring an officially licensed AI voice replica of Sir Michael Caine. The audiobook, which also includes a full cast, original music, and immersive sound design, is available now ahead of Christopher Nolan's blockbuster film adaptation of the epic poem, set for release next month.
Caine's AI Voice Deal
In November 2025, Michael Caine, 93, and Matthew McConaughey became the highest-profile actors to sign with ElevenLabs' Iconic Voice Marketplace, a platform that allows brands, studios, and creators to rent celebrity voices. The deal enables Caine's voice to be used in perpetuity, even after his death, pending estate approval. Caine announced his retirement at the Red Sea Film Festival in December 2025, marking his fourth such declaration, but his licensing agreement suggests continued involvement in AI-driven projects.
Dustin Blank, who leads partnerships at ElevenLabs, praised Caine's foresight: "Bravo to him for recognising this is where technology is going. He's a leader in this space because he's been a part of crafting the first steps and his own legacy."
The Odyssey Audiobook
The audiobook uses the 1870s translation by William Cullen Bryant, while Nolan's film draws on Emily Wilson's 2017 translation. ElevenLabs confirmed no academics were involved in the production, but ensuring correct pronunciation of characters' names was "a painstaking process." The opening chapter is available for free, featuring Caine's AI voice in calm, respectful tones, though critics note its uniformity compared to traditional performances.
In a statement, Caine described the poem as "one of the greatest stories ever told," adding that the project "reimagines this timeless epic for modern audiences." The production took four producers six weeks, which ElevenLabs says accelerates traditional months-long processes.
Industry Impact and Criticism
ElevenLabs' use of AI in creative roles has sparked debate. Blank defended the approach, stating: "Human ingenuity is creating these prompts and putting the pieces together. It will allow for more things to go into production and more money to go into this space." Other voice artists in the audiobook are uncredited and were paid based on the number of letters of the alphabet their voice spoke, with some 22 million people compensated this way. Iconic range members retain veto power over projects.
The rise of AI in entertainment has seen other actors like Bruce Willis and the late Val Kilmer license their likenesses. Willis's "digital twin" appeared in a 2022 Russian telecom advert, while Kilmer's AI version will star in the upcoming western As Deep as the Grave.
Caine's Legacy
Caine, a six-time Oscar nominee and two-time winner, has appeared in over 150 films, including Alfie, Get Carter, and The Dark Knight trilogy. He has long been candid about prioritising commercial pragmatism, famously saying of Jaws: The Revenge: "I have never seen the film, but by all accounts it is terrible. However I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific."
Despite multiple retirements, Caine continues to be involved in projects. In autumn 2025, he recorded non-AI narration for the short film Bobby, written and directed by Isabella Webber. Webber told the Guardian that Caine recorded the voiceover in his London flat, delivering multiple versions and tones. "The humanity and the happy accidents give you things you'd never be able to predict," she said. "Whereas the thing with AI is that everything's predictable."
Future Projects
ElevenLabs plans further audiobook productions tied to landmark films, such as upcoming Dune 3 and Netflix's Pride & Prejudice. Blank said the company is open to collaborations with big-name directors and unconventional casting, including gender-flipped classics. "It has to be something that pushes the ball forward, not AI for AI's sake," he added.
