Michael Caine Lia Toby/Getty So it begins: A new audiobook version of The Odyssey has been released voiced by legendary actor Michael Caine — except not really.
Caine granted permission for an AI audio company to clone his voice for this project and other upcoming books and articles. You can listen to a rather convincing sample of AI Caine in The Odyssey audiobook trailer below.
According to Deadline, the 93-year-old actor partnered with ElevenLabs last year to clone his iconic and distinctive voice. The company’s investors include actor Matthew McConaughey.
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“The Odyssey is one of the greatest stories ever told,” Caine said in a statement. “For nearly three millennia, its themes of perseverance, loyalty, temptation, and the enduring call of home have resonated across cultures and generations.”
This new version of Homer’s epic poem is a 13-hour cinematic production with a full cast of AI voices, music and sound effects. The project reportedly took just six weeks to produce. The project is being released for free via the company’s ElevenReader app.
The company hopes to take advantage of interest in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which is released in theaters July 17. Nolan cast the British actor in several of his blockbusters, including his Dark Knight trilogy and Inception. “Before you see the film, hear the original epic,” ElevenLabs declared on social media.
ElevenLabs has previously announced the company secured likeness rights deals with the estates of several deceased actors—including John Wayne, Judy Garland, Stan Lee, and Laurence Olivier. The company also settled a lawsuit with two actors (Karissa Vacker and Mark Boyett) who accused the company of using their voices without permission.
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