May 28 (THEWILL) — Stan Lee’s voice and likeness are being brought back through a new artificial intelligence partnership with AI audio company ElevenLabs.
The company announced on Wednesday, May 27, that it signed a deal with Stan Lee Universe to add Lee’s voice and image to its Iconic Marketplace, which allows users to license AI versions of celebrities for commercial use.
Lee, who died in 2018 at age 95, was one of the most influential figures in comic book history and helped create Marvel characters including Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four.
According to ElevenLabs, Lee’s AI voice was created using professional recordings from his lifetime.
The company also announced a new “Stan Lee Book Club of the Month” feature on its Eleven Reader app, where Lee’s recreated voice will narrate classic books, beginning with Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island.”
Users will also be able to create comic-book-style images and videos inspired by Lee through the platform’s visual tools.
In a statement, Chaz Rainey of Stan Lee Universe said the partnership was designed to continue Lee’s connection with fans through modern technology.
The agreement comes as more celebrities and estates explore the use of AI-generated voices and likenesses in entertainment projects.
Other personalities featured on ElevenLabs’ marketplace include Michael Caine, Judy Garland, and David Hasselhoff.
The announcement has also sparked debate online, with some fans questioning the growing use of AI recreations of public figures after their deaths.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
