Marvel Comics has a history of bringing iconic characters back to life, and now, ElevenLabs, an AI audio company, is extending this concept to the legendary Marvel creator, Stan Lee. ElevenLabs announced a significant partnership with Stan Lee Universe, a joint venture of Genius Brands International and POW! Entertainment. This collaboration aims to integrate the late Marvel Comics writer’s distinctive voice and likeness into the ElevenLabs Iconic Marketplace, a specialized collection where celebrity personality voices and likenesses can be licensed for commercial applications.

As an illustration of this innovative venture, an AI-generated rendition of Stan Lee's voice can be heard proclaiming in a video released by ElevenLabs, "You know what they never tell you about legends? They outlive the page." Beyond simply licensing his voice, the partnership offers several interactive features. Starting immediately, users are able to generate Stan Lee’s likeness within visually engaging templates inspired by classic comic book panels, utilizing ElevenLabs' visual generator. However, it's important to note that these images and videos are strictly for non-commercial use. Additionally, through the Eleven Reader app, users can leverage his AI-replicated voice to narrate any book. ElevenLabs has confirmed that this authentic voice model was meticulously trained using professional recordings of Stan Lee.

Chaz Rainey, a lawyer and board member for Stan Lee Universe, emphasized the essence of this partnership, stating, "Stan always believed in meeting his fans where they were: in the pages of a comic, at a convention, or in a quick on-screen cameo. This partnership is a way of continuing that. Fans have always told us that when they read his comics, they hear the words in Stan’s voice, and now, thanks to ElevenLabs, we can make that a reality." This initiative reflects a growing trend where celebrities, or their estates in the case of those who have passed, are actively exploring and experimenting with how their likenesses are licensed for various AI-related materials and projects.

ElevenLabs' Iconic Marketplace already features an impressive roster of personalities, including Michael Caine, Judy Garland, Burt Reynolds, David Hasselhoff, and Albert Einstein. Furthermore, the estate of Val Kilmer recently approved the use of his image and voice for an AI-generated version of him to star in the upcoming film "As Deep as the Grave" despite his passing. This highlights the evolving landscape of digital immortality and celebrity rights. Lori McCreary, co-founder of Revelations with Morgan Freeman, commented on this new frontier, advocating for collaboration: "Technology companies and the entertainment industry need to work together to create AI systems that respect consent, protect name, image, and likeness rights, and preserve the value of human creativity."

In addition to the core licensing, the ElevenLabs and Stan Lee Universe partnership will introduce a new monthly series titled “Stan Lee Book Club of the Month” via the Eleven Reader app. This series will feature Lee's distinctive voice narrating a different book each month. The inaugural selection for June is Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, “Treasure Island,” with plans to add a new public domain title monthly, commemorating Lee’s profound love for literature. The video accompanying the announcement also features Lee’s replicated voice uttering his iconic catchphrase, "With great power comes great responsibility. Excelsior!"

Further expanding their offerings, ElevenLabs is incorporating two new comic book-inspired music filters into its AI music generator, ElevenCreative Music. These filters, aptly named "Superhero Cinematic Swells" and "Retro Hero Fanfare," aim to evoke the energetic and dramatic feel of classic comic book soundtracks, paying homage to Lee's creative legacy.

This strategic partnership underscores a period of sustained growth and significant momentum for ElevenLabs. Earlier this year, the company successfully secured $500 million in a Series D funding round, propelling its valuation to an impressive $11 billion. This achievement occurred just five months after the company, founded in 2022, had offered its employees a $100 million tender offer at a $6.6 billion valuation. The collaboration with Stan Lee Universe also follows the successful launch of "The Eleven Album," a collection of original songs co-created with renowned singers such as Liza Minelli and Art Garfunkel, alongside AI-generated music artists, designed to produce studio-quality compositions. The second volume of this album was released just last month.

Stan Lee, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 95, had his name, voice, and likeness previously licensed by Marvel in 2022 for use in films, television shows, and Disney theme parks. Rainey reiterated the lasting impact of this new venture: "His voice, his image, his love of storytelling… ElevenLabs gives us a way to keep that alive and in fans’ hands in a way that’s true to who he was."