Michael Caine Announces He’s Narrating The Odyssey — But Not the Christopher Nolan Movie, And Also His Voice is Actually AI
93-year-old Michael Caine has partnered with AI company ElevenLabs to narrate an audiobook adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey using a licensed AI reproduction of his voice. The audiobook, made available through ElevenReader (owned by ElevenLabs), marks the company’s first “cinematic multicast audiobook” and features Caine’s AI voice alongside other AI-generated performances, original music, and immersive sound design.
This partnership is distinct from Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film adaptation of The Odyssey, which stars Matt Damon and Tom Holland and arrives later this year. Caine, who officially retired from acting three years ago, will not be appearing in that production.
The announcement represents an expansion of Caine’s agreement with ElevenLabs to license his voice for use across the platform. Unlike cases where AI companies have been alleged to have used actors’ performances without consent, Caine’s collaboration with ElevenLabs is an official partnership that grants consent for his voice to be reproduced and made available for various projects.
In a statement, Caine expressed enthusiasm for the project, noting that The Odyssey “is one of the greatest stories ever told” and highlighting the work’s enduring themes of perseverance, loyalty, temptation, and homecoming that have resonated across cultures for nearly three millennia.
This project exemplifies the growing use of voice synthesis technology in entertainment and audiobook production, raising ongoing questions about AI voice reproduction, artist consent, and the future role of synthetic voices in media.