Stan Lee’s estate partnered with ElevenLabs to bring the late creator’s voice and image into the company’s AI marketplace, where users can create comic-inspired visuals and narrated content using a digital version of Lee.

The deal allows fans to generate Lee’s likeness inside comic-book-style templates and use his recreated voice to narrate books through the Eleven Reader app.

The company says the AI voice model was trained using professional recordings of Lee before his death in 2018.

The partnership also launches a monthly “Stan Lee Book Club,” where the AI version of Lee will narrate classic public-domain books starting with Treasure Island.

Supporters say the project keeps Lee’s storytelling legacy alive for younger audiences, while critics continue raising ethical concerns about AI recreations of deceased celebrities.

What the deal includes

• Fans can generate AI versions of Stan Lee’s voice
• Users can create comic-inspired images featuring his likeness
• The AI voice can narrate books through Eleven Reader
• The recreated voice was trained on archival recordings
• The project launches with a “Stan Lee Book Club”
• June’s first featured book is Treasure Island
• Commercial licensing is available through ElevenLabs’ marketplace

THE BIGGER QUESTION

The partnership highlights the growing debate around AI recreations of deceased public figures and who should control digital identities after death.

As AI technology rapidly improves, more celebrity estates and entertainment companies are exploring ways to monetize voices, likenesses, and personalities long after stars have died.

Supporters argue these projects preserve cultural icons for future generations, while critics worry about consent, authenticity, and the commercialization of dead celebrities.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

The Stan Lee AI tools are now being rolled out through ElevenLabs’ platform, with additional books, visual templates, and creative features expected in future updates.

The deal also positions ElevenLabs as one of the leading companies in celebrity AI licensing as more actors, musicians, and estates explore similar partnerships.

The entertainment industry is expected to keep facing major legal and ethical debates over how AI versions of public figures are used moving forward.

What we still don’t know

• How fans and creators will ultimately respond long term
• Whether more restrictions will be added around AI celebrity usage
• How future copyright and likeness laws could affect projects like this
• How Marvel fans will react to broader commercial use of Lee’s likeness