Michael Caine's AI Voice Narrates The Odyssey Audiobook as Hollywood Debates Voice Cloning

You're only supposed to blow the bloody hooves off: AI Michael Caine narrates Odyssey audiobook

AI company ElevenLabs unveils its officially licensed replica of the iconic actor's voice in a retelling of Homer's epic poem, while director who previously recorded the star recalls real-life experience Next month, Christopher Nolan's blockbuster version of The Odyssey is set to storm cinemas around the globe. Auguries suggest the almost three-hour drama will repeat the success of Nolan's previous film both at the box office (Oppenheimer took nearly a billion dollars) and the Academy Awards (it won seven Oscars). But before that, a new audiobook version of Homer's tale has been released starring one of Nolan's most frequent collaborators: Michael Caine, with whom he has worked on eight films, including the Dark Knight trilogy. Caine, now 93, announced his retirement at the Red Sea film festival in Saudi Arabia last December. It was the fourth time he has done so, and seems as unlikely to be binding as the previous three times, particularly thanks to a deal the actor struck shortly beforehand to licence an AI version of his voice. In November 2025, Caine and Matthew McConaughey became the highest-profile stars to sign on with ElevenLabs, the $11bn AI audio generation and voice cloning company that enables brands, studios and creators to rent celebrity voices from its Iconic Voice Marketplace. Such tools mean even death will not wither A-listers' abilities to appear in new adverts, films or on GPS devices, as the licensing can continue - pending estate approval - for eternity. The 13-hour Odyssey audiobook is ElevenLabs' inaugural in-house production and billed as "the company's first cinematic multicast audiobook, combining Sir Michael Caine's™ official AI voice replica, a full cast performance, original music and immersive sound design". While Nolan's screenplay draws on Emily Wilson's revisionist 2017 translation for inspiration, ElevenLabs used the text translated by William Cullen Bryant in the 1870s. No academics were involved, they confirmed, but ensuring the correct pronunciation of characters' names was "a painstaking process". In a statement, Caine described the poem as "one of the greatest stories ever told. For nearly three millennia, its themes of perseverance, loyalty, temptation and the enduring call of home have resonated across cultures and generations. "By bridging classical storytelling with digital innovation, this timeless epic is reimagined for modern audiences, brought vividly to life through ElevenReader's cutting-edge technology. It was a pleasure to be a part of ElevenProductions' retelling of The Odyssey." Caine's involvement was mostly confined to his consultancy last year, perfecting iterations of his AI voice. Dustin Blank, who leads partnerships at ElevenLabs, applauded the actor's foresight in signing the deal with the company. "Bravo to him for recognising this is where technology is going," Blank told the Guardian. "He's a leader in this space because he's been a part of crafting the first steps and his own legacy. The other voice artists featured in the audiobook are uncredited, and only learned of their involvement in the project after its completion, when they were remunerated according to the number of letters of the alphabet their voice spoke. So far, some 22 million people have been paid in this way. Members of the company's Iconic range, however, have power of veto over the projects their voices appear in. Supporting cast members were "auditioned" from the library, says Blank. For Athena, for instance, the producers were looking for a voice that was "wise, but subtly emotive". Once one had been identified, "we could really hear that person. And they made the words come alive on the page". In the opening chapter - which is available to listen to for free - Caine narrates in strikingly lifelike if remarkably uniform tones: calm, respectful and respectable. His intonation is more homogenous than might perhaps have come with a traditional performance, and more even than that of some of the other voices used (in particular a fruity Zeus). Blank points to the vernacular origins of the epic poem - originally written down around 725-675 BC - as offering further validation for their decision to produce a new version using code-prompting. "This story has been around for thousands of years," he says. "It has already travelled through all different types of technology and retelling. So we view this as a continuation of that." The production took four producers six weeks, which ElevenLabs says represents a considerable acceleration of the traditional "months of casting, recording, sound design, and post-production". Those criticising the company for minimising creative roles and imperilling jobs are missing the point. "Human ingenuity is creating these prompts and putting the pieces together," Blank says, "and we're hiring new types of jobs to support this." He continued: "It will also allow for more things to go into production and more money to go into this space. The goal is, with this type of technology being in the hands of more people, that there will be more product out there and more opportunity for people to get through the door." Future projects are still in discussion, with further audiobook versions of canonical texts released before landmark new movies - such as the forthcoming Dune 3 and Netflix's Pride & Prejudice - likely to provide a model. "We've toyed around with some of those and we're thinking about who we would want to cast in them," said Blank. "It has to be something that pushes the ball forward, not AI for AI's sake." Blank also said the company would be open to collaborating with big-name directors who would take control of the decision-making and mix, as well as productions with unconventional casting, such as gender-flipped versions of classics: "I love that idea - and we should." Caine is a six-time Oscar nominee and two-time winner, whose roles in films including Alfie, Get Carter, Zulu, The Man Who Would Be King, Sleuth, Educating Rita, Hannah and Her Sister, Miss Congeniality, The Cider House Rules, Youth and A Muppet Christmas Carol have made him one of one of the world's best-loved - and most prolific - stars. A veteran of more than 150 movies, he has long been frank about prizing commercial pragmatism over creative fulfilment. Of his involvement in the critically panned Jaws: The Revenge (1987), for which he received $1m for a fortnight's work, he famously said: "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." Caine first retired in 2009, after gang crime drama Harry Brown, then again, 24 films later, in 2021, after starring as a novelist in Best Sellers. He returned for the little seen Czech historical drama Medieval in 2022, and the following year starred in The Great Escaper as a D-day veteran who travels to Normandy solo from his care home for the 70th anniversary, for which he won rave reviews. Although Caine told Radio 4 that would be his last film, he suggested to the Guardian he would shortly shoot a biopic of Charles Darwin. "And that'll be it. I won't do another one after." When questioned whether he was certain, Caine said: "No! But the point is, can you do it? Can you remember all the lines? I've got used to not working and staying in bed till 11am and staying out late at night. I love it." Anthony Hopkins has since been announced as the star of the Darwin film, which is currently in production, while Caine's mooted return as a priest in The Last Witch Hunter 2, aiding Vin Diesel's immortal warrior, also seems unlikely to materialise. While Caine provided narration for the audio versions of his 2010 and 2018 memoirs, Eddie Marsden took over for 2024's Don't Look Back, You'll Trip Over: My Guide to Life, as well as for the audio version of Caine's first novel, a thriller called Deadly Game, in 2023. However, Caine did lend non-AI vocals to a short film, Bobby, which is likely to premiere this autumn. The writer-director of that film, Isabella Webber, told the Guardian that Caine recorded narration with her in his London flat the month before he signed the ElevenLabs deal. Caine reads aloud a poem written especially for the film, which is based on the story of a man moved to paddle in his own canoe to Dunkirk in an attempt to help rescue troops. Webber said that she decided to ask Caine having heard him speak about his own father's experiences of Dunkirk on a podcast. After connecting with Caine's wife, Shakira, Webber was told that Caine was keen, but due to his age and health, they couldn't pin down a day. "I had the script and a microphone in my bag and just didn't leave Chelsea Harbour [where Caine lives] for about three weeks," said Webber. "Then one day I got a phone call and went to his flat." After a spell sitting on his sofa watching Sky Sports, Webber showed him the script. "And the minute I got it in front of him, he just lit up. We spent a good hour together while he read the poem. He'd read a line and then ask my opinion, and I was like: 'I don't need to be directing you, Michael!'" Allowing the actor free rein paid dividends, says Webber. "He gave me so many different versions and tones. The inflection and pacing of a performance can convey so many different things. When actors do stuff that you weren't expecting, and in a way that you weren't expecting, it elevates the script to another league. It isn't just a voice; it's a lifetime of experience." In between takes, Caine would recount stories his father had told him about the war, which ended up shaping some of the rest of the film's narrative, which Webber hopes will become a full-length feature. The trailer features a snippet of Caine's voiceover: slow, gravelly, imperfect and immensely characterful. "The humanity and the happy accidents give you things you'd never be able to predict," says Webber. "Whereas the thing with AI is that everything's predictable."

New version of The Odyssey with a Dark Knight star is coming out before Christopher Nolan's movie

Here's yet another soul-numbing generative AI-related announcement: There's now an audiobook of Homer's The Odyssey voiced by Michael Caine's AI doppelgänger. The digital facsimile of Caine's voice will appear alongside other AI voices with AI music. It's available through ElevenReader, which is owned by the audio company ElevenLabs. Caine partnered with ElevenLabs not just for this audiobook,but to make his voice available for virtually everything on the platform (unlike in cases where other AI companies allegedly stole actors' performances). "The Odyssey is one of the greatest stories ever told. For nearly three millennia, its themes of perseverance, loyalty, temptation, and the enduring call of home have resonated across cultures and generations," Caine said in a statement. The idea that this epic poem, kept alive over centuries through human tenacity, is now being "passed on" by machine-trained voices is a good shorthand for why AI "art" is such a bummer: These voice-overs may reach a point where they sound technically competent, but they can't achieve the same personality as a human performance. It would be interesting to know what Homer, or the multiple people who authored the Iliad and the Odyssey, would think about this situation (after you spent several days explaining the concept of computers and the internet to him/them, of course). Jack McDermott from ElevenLabs said: "For centuries, stories like The Odyssey have been passed from one generation to the next through written and spoken word. This production builds on that tradition, combining human creativity with the latest AI production capabilities to create an audiobook experience that feels truly immersive." It is a bit unclear where human creativity comes into play when feeding an existing epic poem into an AI model. ElevenLabs' stunt is clearly designed to piggyback off hype around Christopher Nolan's upcoming film adaptation of The Odyssey, as readers flock to the source material to try and remember who the heck the Laestrygonians are. Caine has appeared in many of Nolan's films, including the Batman trilogy, Inception, and Interstellar, making this connection all the stronger. While ElevenLabs' technology has been praised for the quality of its AI voices, this high-accuracy mimicry has already been abused. ElevenLabs ran into controversy when4chan users utilized their model to generate fake statements from celebrities filled with hate speech (one included an AI version of Emma Watson making anti-Semitic comments). Critics have pointed out that ElevenLabs' models can be used to create deepfakes and spread misinformation, something particularly dangerous given the proximity to a major U.S. election. No matter what Christopher Nolan does, he'll never eclipse my favorite adaptation of The Odyssey For one thing, he doesn't have John Goodman playing his cyclops Posts 28

One of the world's oldest stories just got an AI makeover, with the voice of an Oscar-winning actor

Homer's epic 'Odyssey' has been reimagined as a 13-hour audiobook, narrated by an AI-generated voice clone of Oscar-winning actor Michael Caine. This innovative use of artificial intelligence in storytelling, while praised by some for blending creativity with technology, sparks debate in Hollywood. Many actors are pushing back, advocating for 'human consent' registries to protect their likeness and voices from unauthorized AI replication. Nearly 3,000 years after it first captivated audiences, The Odyssey has found a new way to reach listeners. This time, the classic tale arrives with artificial intelligence at the center of its storytelling. A newly released audiobook uses an AI-generated version of Michael Caine's voice, reigniting debates across Hollywood about creativity, consent and the future of performance. While some welcome the technology, others remain deeply cautious about where it could lead, as per a report by Smithsonian magazine. The Odyssey has survived through spoken tradition, written manuscripts and countless retellings. Now, one of the world's oldest stories has entered a new chapter with the help of artificial intelligence. Production company ElevenLabs has released a 13-hour adaptation of Homer's epic poem featuring what sounds like the unmistakable voice of Michael Caine. Yet the performance was not recorded in a studio. Instead, it was generated through AI technology, alongside 20 additional voices, music and sound effects. The release has added another layer to an ongoing conversation about how artificial intelligence is reshaping creative industries. You Might Also Like: Quote of the Day by Mark Twain: 'It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled' - Timeless lessons on self-deception, human nature, and intellectual humility by the greatest humorist of the United States How was the new Odyssey audiobook created? According to ElevenLabs, the production blends traditional storytelling with modern audio technology. "For centuries, people have passed down stories like the Odyssey through voice and written text," Jack McDermott, who leads marketing efforts at ElevenLabs, says in a statement. "This new production builds on that tradition. It combines human creativity and taste with A.I. audio tools that turn an ancient story into an immersive audiobook for today's readers." Michael Caine, the 93-year-old British actor, licensed both his likeness and voice to the company's Iconic Marketplace. The agreement permits ElevenLabs to use AI-generated versions of his voice for commercial projects, as per a report by Smithsonian magazine. You Might Also Like: Quote of the Day by Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison: 'At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough...'- Life lessons on presence, gratitude, and finding peace in the present moment This is not the first time the company has taken this approach. Earlier productions included The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, narrated through an AI recreation of Judy Garland's voice, and Sherlock Holmes, featuring an AI version of Laurence Olivier. Why is Hollywood divided over AI voices? The growing use of artificial intelligence continues to split opinion across the entertainment industry.Some performers and companies view AI as a tool that can preserve iconic voices and introduce classic works to new audiences. Others worry about long-term consequences for creative professions and artistic ownership. You Might Also Like: Psychology says people who decline invitations more often as they get older may not be becoming unfriendly, they may be becoming more selective Those concerns intensified in 2025 when more than 400 entertainment leaders signed an open letter urging the U.S. government to strengthen regulations surrounding artificial intelligence and copyright protections, according to CBS News. The debate has become especially significant within the audiobook industry, where human narration has traditionally been central to the listening experience, as per a report by Smithsonian magazine. "The slippery slope of synthetic celebrity voices is, of course, that publishers will simply license those voices for more and more projects, resulting in fewer possibilities for everyone else," audiobook narrator Edoardo Ballerini tells the New York Times. What is the human consent registry? Amid these discussions, a new initiative has emerged to address concerns about permission and ownership. This week saw the launch of the Human Consent Registry, a tool developed by an organization co-founded by actor Cate Blanchett. The registry aims to create a public and machine-readable system that records whether individuals approve or reject the use of their likeness, voices and movements by AI systems. As reported by Gizmodo, however, there is still no clear mechanism for enforcing those preferences. The conversation surrounding The Odyssey audiobook therefore extends beyond one production. It touches on larger questions about technology, creativity and consent that continue to shape Hollywood. Homer's ancient tale has once again found a new audience, proving that even stories nearly 3,000 years old can evolve alongside the tools of a changing world, while sparking fresh debates about who tells them and how. FAQs Who narrates the new Odyssey audiobook? It uses an AI-generated version of Michael Caine's licensed voice. Why is the release drawing attention? It has revived discussions about AI, consent and creative rights in entertainment. You Might Also Like: Best Proverb of the Day: 'Do not withhold good from those who need it...'- A timeless lesson on kindness, responsibility, and human compassion

Michael Caine Lends His AI Clone to Voice 'The Odyssey' Audiobook

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. "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.

Christopher Nolan Movie Star Michael Caine Has Announced His Own Version of The Odyssey -- from an AI Company That Has Licensed and Reproduced His Voice

93-year-old Michael Caine has announced he will narrate his own version of The Odyssey -- launched via an AI company that has officially licensed and reproduced his voice. This reproduction of Caine is AI company ElevenLabs' first "cinematic multicast audiobook," a press release for the project states, combining a reproduction of Caine's British tones with "a full cast performance, original music and immersive sound design" -- all of which sound like they're being created using AI as well. To be clear, this is nothing to do with Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon and Tom Holland, which also arrives this year. Despite previously making regular appearances in Nolan's films, Caine officially retired from acting three years ago, when he hit 90. "The Odyssey is one of the greatest stories ever told," Caine said in a statement. "By bridging classical storytelling with digital innovation, this epic is reimagined for modern audiences through ElevenReader. It was a pleasure to be a part of this retelling." ElevenLabs announced it snapped up the rights to Caine's voice last year, entombing his vocal performances in a growing library of living and dead celebrities that also includes Judy Garland, David Hasselhoff, Albert Einstein, and Matthew McConaughey -- the latter of whom has also invested an undisclosed amount in the company. Last month, ElevenLabs announced its latest celebrity voice acquisition: the late Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee. In a statement, ElevenLabs said it now owned the commercial rights to Lee's image and voice and intended to license them for further use by other companies, opening the door to a digitally-resurrected Lee appearing in films and commercials. Similar to The Odyssey, Stan Lee will also be heard narrating audio books, including a "Stan Lee Book Club of the Month." Michael Caine's AI version of The Odyssey is available now. Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey launches in theaters on July 19. Image credit: Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival. Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social