ElevenLabs collaborates with Stan Lee Universe for AI voice technology.

      TL;DR: ElevenLabs has teamed up with Stan Lee Universe to incorporate the AI-generated voice and likeness of the late Marvel co-creator into its platform. This partnership brings Lee’s voice to the Iconic Marketplace for commercial licensing, launches a Stan Lee Book of the Month Club on Eleven Reader, and includes his likeness in Creative Templates.

      ElevenLabs has formed a collaboration with Stan Lee Universe to integrate Stan Lee’s voice and likeness into its platform, marking the latest instance of a deceased cultural icon being digitally revived through AI. This agreement positions Lee’s voice on the ElevenLabs Iconic Marketplace for commercial use and allows fans to have him narrate any book on the Eleven Reader app. His likeness will also feature in ElevenLabs Creative Templates, along with the release of two Stan Lee-inspired music filters on ElevenCreative Music.

      The voice was derived from professional recordings of Lee, who passed away on November 12, 2018, at 95 years old. Stan Lee Universe is a joint venture formed by Genius Brands International and POW! Entertainment, which oversees Lee’s name, voice, likeness, and post-Marvel intellectual property.

      A book club narrated by a deceased individual

      The highlight of the agreement is the creation of the Stan Lee Book of the Month Club, to be launched within the Eleven Reader app. Each month, ElevenLabs will debut a public domain classic narrated in Lee’s AI-generated voice, beginning with Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island in June. The company plans to introduce one new title each month for the following year.

      The selection of public domain texts is practical, sidestepping the licensing intricacies involved in narrating copyrighted books with a synthetic voice while providing ElevenLabs with a recurring content offering tied to a well-known name. Users can also opt for Lee’s voice to narrate any book available in the Eleven Reader library, extending the partnership's reach beyond the curated monthly selections.

      AI-driven cameos

      Lee’s likeness will be available on ElevenLabs Creative Templates, the business’s visual content creation tool. Users will be able to generate images and videos that feature Lee, reminiscent of the iconic cameos that he became known for in Marvel films over the years. All personal use is non-commercial and must adhere to safety protocols approved by both parties. Commercial licensing of Lee’s likeness can be obtained through the Stan Lee Universe team.

      Additionally, there are two music filters, Superhero Swells and Retro Hero Fanfare, available on ElevenCreative Music, designed to capture the essence of Lee’s universe. These filters are accessible to all ElevenLabs users without needing extra licensing.

      The consent-based approach

      This agreement follows the consent-based licensing model that ElevenLabs established with the launch of its Iconic Marketplace in November 2025. The marketplace connects brands with rights holders for verified celebrity voices, including those of Michael Caine, Matthew McConaughey, Judy Garland, Burt Reynolds, John Wayne, and Liza Minnelli. ElevenLabs acts as a mediator, facilitating licensing agreements and voice synthesis while ensuring estates and rights holders retain oversight.

      This framework is significant because alternatives have already surfaced. AI-generated songs have appeared on streaming platforms of deceased artists without authorization from their estates or labels, and unauthorized voice replicates of public figures circulate widely. ElevenLabs positions its marketplace as a legitimate alternative, where rights holders initiate and control the licensing process rather than discovering that their assets have been exploited without consent.

      Chaz Rainey of Stan Lee Universe characterized the partnership as a continuation of how Lee connected with fans throughout his lifetime. Lee was known for engaging audiences in various formats, whether through comics, at conventions, or in his memorable movie cameos. The AI voice and likeness tools are presented as an evolution of this tradition.

      A $11 billion investment in voice

      In February 2026, ElevenLabs secured $500 million in a Series D funding round led by Sequoia Capital, which valued the company at $11 billion. This figure more than triples its prior valuation of $6.6 billion from a September 2025 employee tender offer. The company concluded 2025 with an annual recurring revenue of $330 million and has raised a total of $811 million.

      The collaboration with Stan Lee is among a series of notable agreements that establish ElevenLabs as a leading platform for AI-driven digital continuities. The Iconic Marketplace currently features voices of both living personalities like McConaughey and Caine and historical figures such as Maya Angelou, Alan Turing, and Mark Twain. The company represents a diverse array of actors, athletes, scientists, and cultural icons.

      Since its establishment in 2020, Stan Lee Universe has remained active in managing Lee’s legacy. In May 2022, it entered a 20-year agreement with Marvel Studios, granting exclusive rights to utilize Lee’s name, voice, likeness, and signature in future films, television series, and Disney theme parks globally. The ElevenLabs partnership extends that licensing strategy into the realm of AI-generated content