Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey Team Up with AI Company ElevenLabs to Clone His Iconic Voice
Sir Michael Caine is joining the digital as he partnering with the AI audio company ElevenLabs to clone his voice. The collaboration is part of ElevenLabs’ new Iconic Voice Marketplace, a platform that lets creators license the voices of famous figures for use in editorial and commercial content.
The marketplace includes both living and legendary voices. Alongside Caine are names like Liza Minnelli, Art Garfunkel, John Wayne, Laurence Olivier, and Judy Garland. The idea is to give users access to voices that can bring new life to stories, projects, and performances, all with the proper permission from the rights holders.
The move comes as AI companies continue to face scrutiny over how they use people’s likenesses and voices. In fact, ElevenLabs recently settled a lawsuit filed by Karissa Vacker and Mark Boyett, who accused the company of misappropriating their voices.
Now, the company seems to be taking a more transparent approach, working directly with talent or their estates to create approved digital voice models.
Caine, who famously starred in The Dark Knight, and so many other incredible films, has already recorded a promotional spot for the initiative. His AI voice will also be available on the ElevenReader app, allowing fans to hear him narrate books, articles, and other content.
In a statement, Caine shared his thoughts on the collaboration:
“For years, I’ve lent my voice to stories that moved people — tales of courage, of wit, of the human spirit. Now, I’m helping others find theirs.
“With ElevenLabs, we can preserve and share voices — not just mine, but anyone’s. ElevenLabs is at the very forefront of technology, using innovation not to replace humanity, but to celebrate it.”
The Iconic Voice Marketplace is designed to connect users with rights holders for voice licensing requests. Once an agreement is reached, ElevenLabs’ AI cloning tech brings the chosen voice to life. It’s a concept that feels equal parts futuristic and respectful of legacy — particularly as it allows for the preservation of voices long gone.
The company has also attracted some Hollywood investment. Matthew McConaughey has taken a stake in ElevenLabs, further signaling that this tech could become a major player in the entertainment and creative industries.
“I launched my newsletter, Lyrics of Livin’, as a way to share stories and ideas in my own voice with those who want to listen,” McConaughey said. “Now, thanks to ElevenLabs, Lyrics of Livin’ is expanding with a Spanish language edition, allowing us to reach and connect with even more people.”
Founded in 2022 by Piotr Dąbkowski and Mati Staniszewski, ElevenLabs is quickly becoming one of the leading names in generative audio technology. Their mission is to use AI to preserve rather than exploit, and that might just reshape how voice and performance are viewed in the digital age.
The Iconic Voice Marketplace currently features a lineup that includes: Michael Caine, Liza Minnelli, Art Garfunkel, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Judy Garland, John Wayne, Bettie Page, Burt Reynolds, Maya Angelou, Richard Feynman, Laurence Olivier, Amelia Earhart, Babe Ruth, Mark Twain, Ty Cobb, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Al Joyner, Johnny Weissmuller, Jim Thorpe, Thomas Edison, Jean Harlow, Lana Turner, Mickey Rooney, Montgomery Clift, Alan Turing, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and Rock Hudson.
With Caine’s instantly recognizable voice leading the charge, ElevenLabs’ Iconic Voice Marketplace feels like the start of a new era in how we connect with voices from across time.