ElevenLabs Secures Rights to Recreate Stan Lee’s Voice and Likeness with AI.
ElevenLabs, a leading company in AI‑generated audio, has announced a landmark agreement allowing it to recreate the iconic voice and likeness of Stan Lee — the legendary co‑creator of Marvel superheroes. This deal enables the company to digitally reproduce his voice with high fidelity and make it available for commercial licensing through its upcoming AI voice marketplace.
Stan Lee will return.
ElevenLabs has struck an expansive deal with Stan Lee Universe to add the late Marvel Comics writer’s voice and likeness to its Iconic Marketplace, a collection of celebrity personality voices and likenesses that companies can license for commercial use.… pic.twitter.com/TSaincHQzf
— Variety (@Variety) May 27, 2026
A New Frontier for Digital Celebrity Voices
ElevenLabs has rapidly become known for its advanced voice‑cloning technology, capable of generating natural‑sounding speech from minimal audio samples. With the new agreement, the company is expanding its ambitions by building a marketplace where businesses can legally license AI‑generated voices and likenesses of well‑known figures.
Stan Lee’s voice will be one of the first major additions to this platform. Companies in entertainment, gaming, advertising, and media production will be able to integrate his digitally recreated voice into their projects — provided they obtain the appropriate license.
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Ethical and Legal Use of Digital Likenesses
The use of AI to recreate the voices of deceased celebrities has sparked significant debate in recent years. ElevenLabs emphasizes that all voices included in its marketplace are licensed with full legal permission from rights holders. In the case of Stan Lee, the agreement was made with the entities managing his estate, ensuring that his legacy is treated with respect and oversight.
This approach aims to prevent misuse and establish a framework for ethical AI‑generated performances.
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The ElevenLabs Marketplace: A New Business Model
The upcoming marketplace is designed to function as a catalog of licensed voices — from actors and influencers to historical figures. Users will be able to browse, test, and license these voices for commercial use. ElevenLabs plans to expand the roster over time, creating a centralized hub for high‑quality, legally compliant AI voice assets.
This model could transform multiple industries, offering new creative possibilities for:
- film and TV production
- video games
- audiobook narration
- advertising
- virtual assistants and interactive media
What This Means for the Future
The ability to digitally recreate iconic voices like Stan Lee’s marks a significant shift in how AI intersects with entertainment and culture. It preserves the ability to hear beloved figures long after their passing, while also raising important questions about consent, authenticity, and the boundaries of digital resurrection.
As AI technology continues to evolve, deals like this one may become increasingly common — shaping the future of storytelling, branding, and digital performance.
