ElevenLabs Partners with Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine for AI Voice Licensing

ElevenLabs announced partnerships with actors Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine on November 11, 2025, at the company's first Summit event. The collaboration includes McConaughey joining as an investor and the launch of the Iconic Voice Marketplace, a platform enabling ethical licensing of celebrity voices for creative projects.

McConaughey has worked with ElevenLabs since the company's 2022 founding and now uses the technology to produce a Spanish language audio version of his newsletter "Lyrics of Livin'" in his own voice. Michael Caine's voice joins the marketplace alongside over 25 other figures including Maya Angelou, Alan Turing, and Judy Garland.

The marketplace addresses licensing and consent issues in AI voice technology by connecting companies with talent or estate representatives before voice use. All partnerships require approval from rights holders, with agreements negotiated directly between parties.

Iconic Voice Marketplace Structure

The Iconic Voice Marketplace operates as a two sided platform where companies request access to specific voices for campaigns, creative projects, or content production. ElevenLabs facilitates connections between requesting parties and rights holders but does not directly license the voices.

The process requires companies to submit requests specifying intended use cases. ElevenLabs then contacts the relevant talent representative or estate manager to negotiate licensing terms. Once agreements are reached off platform, ElevenLabs provides the voice cloning technology to deliver the approved content.

This structure differs from ElevenLabs' existing voice library of over 10,000 voices, where contributors receive automatic commissions when their voices are used. The marketplace targets established celebrity voices requiring individual licensing arrangements rather than automated usage.

Michael Caine's voice became available through the marketplace at launch. The 92 year old actor's voice can be licensed for narrating books and articles through the ElevenReader app, as well as for other approved creative applications.

Matthew McConaughey Investment and Usage

McConaughey's involvement extends beyond voice licensing to include an undisclosed investment in ElevenLabs. The actor has collaborated with the company since its 2022 founding by former Google engineer Piotr Dąbkowski and former Palantir employee Mati Staniszewski.

The actor currently uses ElevenLabs technology for his newsletter "Lyrics of Livin'," which shares personal stories and reflections with subscribers. The partnership enables a Spanish-language audio edition using McConaughey's AI-replicated voice, expanding the newsletter's reach without requiring additional recording sessions.

This application demonstrates practical use cases for voice synthesis in content localization. Rather than hiring voice actors or recording multiple language versions, the technology generates audio in the creator's voice across different languages while maintaining vocal characteristics and delivery style.

McConaughey stated the technology allows him to "share stories and ideas in my own voice with those who want to listen" while reaching broader audiences through language accessibility.

Available Voices on the Marketplace

The Iconic Voice Marketplace launched with 28 voices, including four living individuals: Michael Caine, Liza Minnelli, Art Garfunkel, and Olympic athlete Al Joyner. The remaining voices represent historical figures whose estates manage licensing rights.

Complete list of available voices:

Actors and Entertainers: Michael Caine, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, John Wayne, Bettie Page, Burt Reynolds, Laurence Olivier, Jean Harlow, Lana Turner, Mickey Rooney, Montgomery Clift, Rock Hudson

Athletes: Babe Ruth, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Ty Cobb, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Al Joyner, Johnny Weissmuller, Jim Thorpe

Musicians: Art Garfunkel

Writers and Thinkers: Maya Angelou, Mark Twain, Richard Feynman, Alan Turing

Historical Figures: Amelia Earhart, Thomas Edison, J. Robert Oppenheimer

The marketplace focuses on iconic voices with broad recognition and cultural significance. Voices span entertainment, sports, science, and literature, providing options for various content types and target audiences.

Technical Implementation and Voice Quality

ElevenLabs generates AI voices through two methods depending on available source material. For recent figures with extensive recordings, the system uses voice cloning that replicates specific vocal characteristics, speech patterns, and tonal qualities.

For historical figures with limited archival audio, ElevenLabs synthesizes voices by combining available recordings with voice modeling techniques. This approach approximates the person's voice based on existing samples while filling gaps through synthesis.

The technology maintains consistency across different content types. Whether narrating audiobooks, reading newsletter articles, or delivering promotional messages, the AI voice preserves recognizable characteristics of the original speaker.

Voice generation quality depends on source material quantity and quality. Figures with extensive modern recordings produce more accurate replications than those with limited historical audio. The marketplace discloses the generation method used for each voice.

Ethical Considerations and Consent Framework

ElevenLabs positions the marketplace as addressing ethical challenges in AI voice technology. The consent based model requires explicit permission from living individuals or estate representatives for deceased figures before voices become available for licensing.

Living participants like Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey sign agreements authorizing their voice replication and establishing parameters for acceptable use cases. For deceased individuals, estates control licensing decisions and approve specific applications.

The framework prevents unauthorized voice use by requiring platform mediated negotiations rather than offering direct voice access. Companies cannot generate content using marketplace voices without completing the licensing process and receiving approval.

However, the model raises questions about representation of deceased individuals. Estate managers make licensing decisions that the original person cannot review. The appropriateness of these decisions depends on how well estates understand and honor the deceased's values and preferences.

Michael Caine addressed these concerns in his announcement statement: "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."

Use Cases and Applications

The marketplace targets several content categories where licensed celebrity voices provide value:

Audiobook Narration: Publishers can license voices to narrate books related to the person's field or interests. A biography could feature the subject's voice reading their own story, or historical figures could narrate related educational content.

Educational Content: Science educators could license Richard Feynman's voice for physics explanations. Historical documentaries could feature voices of relevant historical figures providing context.

Brand Partnerships: Companies can negotiate celebrity voice usage for advertising or promotional content, subject to approval and licensing terms.

Accessibility Features: Content creators can add audio versions to written content using recognizable voices that enhance engagement.

Localization: Similar to McConaughey's Spanish newsletter, content can be translated while maintaining the original creator's voice, reducing production costs for multilanguage distribution.

The platform explicitly requires approval for each use case. A voice licensed for audiobook narration does not automatically authorize advertising use or other applications.

Platform Integration and Creative Suite

Beyond the marketplace launch, ElevenLabs announced product updates to its Creative Platform. The platform now integrates image and video generation models including Google Veo, OpenAI Sora, and Seedance.

This integration enables creators to combine visual generation with ElevenLabs' voice synthesis, sound effects, and music generation capabilities. Users can produce complete multimedia content within a single platform rather than managing separate tools for different modalities.

The voice library expansion continues alongside the marketplace. ElevenLabs now hosts over 10,000 voices from individual contributors who opt into the platform. These contributors have collectively earned over $11 million in creator rewards from voice usage.

The two tier system serves different needs. The general voice library provides accessible, immediately available voices for everyday content creation. The Iconic Voice Marketplace addresses high value celebrity voices requiring individual negotiation and premium licensing.

Industry Context and Competition

ElevenLabs operates in a developing market for AI voice technology. Competitors include established text-to-speech providers and newer AI focused companies offering voice cloning capabilities.

The company's October 2025 valuation reached $6.6 billion following a $100 million tender offer led by Sequoia and Iconiq, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Smash Capital, and World Innovation Lab. This valuation doubled from the company's Series C funding round earlier in 2025.

The marketplace launch differentiates ElevenLabs from competitors by addressing celebrity voice licensing directly rather than leaving creators to navigate rights independently. This infrastructure reduces legal risk for companies using AI voices in commercial applications.

However, the approach depends on celebrity willingness to participate. The current marketplace includes only 28 voices. Expansion requires convincing additional celebrities or estates that licensing benefits outweigh concerns about voice misuse or brand dilution.

Filmmaking Applications

For filmmakers and content creators, licensed celebrity voices offer specific production advantages:

Documentary Narration: Historical documentaries can feature voices of relevant figures. A documentary about space exploration could use archival narration synthesized from astronaut voices. A film about civil rights could incorporate Maya Angelou's voice reading related texts.

Audio Drama Production: Podcast producers and audio drama creators can license voices for character roles that align with the celebrity's persona or career. This approach reduces voice actor costs while providing recognizable talent.

Localization and Dubbing: International distribution of content featuring specific celebrity voices can maintain voice consistency across language versions. Rather than casting different voice actors for each market, licensed AI voices preserve the original performance.

Accessibility Enhancement: Adding audio narration to visual content improves accessibility. Licensed celebrity voices can make educational or archival content more engaging when adding voiceover to silent footage or text-heavy materials.

Creative Limitations: The licensing requirement prevents spontaneous creative use. Projects require planning time to negotiate access and receive approval. The structure suits pre planned productions rather than experimental or iterative creative processes.

AI FILMS Studio's Text-to-Speech integration with ElevenLabs technology provides access to voice synthesis capabilities for filmmaking workflows. While the Iconic Voice Marketplace serves different needs than standard voice generation, both technologies address audio production requirements across content types.

Privacy and Misuse Prevention

The marketplace structure aims to prevent unauthorized voice use through platform control. Companies cannot access voice generation without completing licensing negotiations. This differs from uncontrolled voice cloning where anyone with audio samples could potentially replicate voices.

However, the technology's availability raises broader questions about voice replication. While ElevenLabs controls marketplace access, voice cloning technology exists across multiple platforms. Determined actors could potentially replicate voices using other tools and publicly available audio samples.

The consent based framework provides accountability for authorized uses but cannot prevent all unauthorized replication. Legal frameworks around voice rights and AI generated content continue developing as technology capabilities expand.

Living marketplace participants like Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey actively choose to make their voices available, accepting potential misuse risks in exchange for creative opportunities and licensing revenue.

Content Creator Implications

The marketplace affects content creators in several ways:

Production Cost Considerations: Licensing celebrity voices adds costs compared to hiring voice actors or using generic synthetic voices. Budget planning must account for licensing fees negotiated through the marketplace.

Production Timeline Impact: The licensing process adds time to production schedules. Projects requiring celebrity voices must account for negotiation periods and approval delays.

Creative Flexibility Tradeoffs: Pre-approved use cases limit spontaneous creative decisions. If a project evolves during production, previously licensed voice usage may no longer fit approved parameters.

Quality Consistency: AI voice generation maintains consistent quality across recording sessions. Unlike human voice actors who may sound different across multiple sessions, AI voices remain stable.

Ethical Decision Framework: Creators must determine when celebrity voice licensing serves the content versus when it exploits recognition for attention. The technology enables both valuable applications and questionable implementations.

For filmmakers integrating AI tools, voice synthesis represents one component within broader production workflows. Evaluate whether licensed celebrity voices add meaningful value to specific projects rather than adopting technology for its own sake.

Legal Framework and Rights Management

The Iconic Voice Marketplace operates within developing legal frameworks for AI generated content and personality rights. Current law provides incomplete guidance on AI voice replication, particularly for deceased individuals.

Living Individuals: Celebrities like Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey sign contracts authorizing voice replication and establishing permitted use cases. These agreements function similarly to traditional celebrity endorsement contracts but address AI-specific applications.

Deceased Individuals: Estate representatives control licensing decisions. Legal authority depends on the deceased's will, estate structure, and applicable state laws governing personality rights and publicity rights.

Jurisdiction Variations: Voice rights and posthumous personality rights vary by location. Some jurisdictions provide stronger protections than others. International content distribution must consider multiple legal frameworks.

Ongoing Development: Legislative bodies continue developing AI specific regulations. Current marketplace structures may require adjustment as laws evolve.

Content creators using marketplace voices should verify licensing agreements cover their intended distribution territories and use cases. Ambiguity in agreements could create legal risk if content usage exceeds approved parameters.

Platform Access and Pricing

ElevenLabs has not publicly disclosed pricing structures for Iconic Voice Marketplace licensing. Fees likely vary based on voice recognition value, use case scope, distribution scale, and negotiation outcomes between companies and rights holders.

The marketplace operates separately from ElevenLabs' standard subscription plans. General users pay for platform access and voice generation credits, but marketplace licensing requires individual negotiation.

Companies interested in licensing celebrity voices submit requests through the platform. ElevenLabs then facilitates connections with talent representatives to discuss terms. This custom pricing model reflects the premium nature of celebrity voice rights compared to standard voice library access.

For content creators evaluating voice synthesis options, the general ElevenLabs voice library provides more accessible pricing through standard subscriptions. The marketplace serves projects where specific celebrity association justifies premium licensing costs.

AI FILMS Studio integrates ElevenLabs voice synthesis for standard voice generation needs. Access celebrity marketplace voices through direct ElevenLabs engagement for projects requiring specific licensed voices.

Future Development Directions

The marketplace launch represents an initial implementation that will likely expand and evolve:

Voice Library Growth: Additional celebrities may join as the model demonstrates value. Success depends on marketplace adoption by companies and positive experiences from initial participants.

Use Case Expansion: Current applications focus on narration and content reading. Future development could address dramatic performances, character voices, or interactive applications.

Technology Improvements: Voice quality will continue improving as underlying AI models advance. Better replication of emotional range and subtle vocal characteristics will emerge.

International Expansion: The current marketplace focuses primarily on American and British voices. International celebrity voices could expand the platform's global utility.

Regulatory Adaptation: As legal frameworks develop, the marketplace structure may need adjustment to comply with new requirements around AI generated content and personality rights.

The technology's longterm trajectory depends on broader acceptance of AI voice replication in creative industries. Success requires balancing innovation with respect for artists' rights and audience comfort with synthetic performances.

Conclusion

The ElevenLabs partnerships with Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine introduce a structured approach to celebrity voice licensing for AI applications. The Iconic Voice Marketplace provides infrastructure for ethical voice use while creating revenue opportunities for talent and their estates.

The model addresses legitimate concerns about unauthorized voice replication by requiring consent and platform mediated licensing. However, questions remain about deceased individual representation and the broader implications of synthetic voice proliferation.

For filmmakers and content creators, the marketplace offers new production tools with associated costs and creative limitations. Licensed celebrity voices serve specific use cases but require planning and budget allocation beyond standard voice synthesis options.

The technology reflects broader shifts toward AI integration in content production. Voice synthesis represents one component within increasingly AI assisted creative workflows. Success depends on thoughtful application that enhances rather than replaces human creativity.

Explore voice synthesis capabilities at AI FILMS Studio for filmmaking and content production workflows. Access Text-to-Speech features for standard voice generation, with ElevenLabs technology integration supporting audio production needs.

Sources:

• Variety: Matthew McConaughey, Michael Caine Ink Deals for AI Generated Versions of Their Voices (November 11, 2025)
• Business Wire: ElevenLabs Announces Partnerships with Iconic Hollywood Actors (November 11, 2025)
• Deadline: Michael Caine Partners With AI Company ElevenLabs To Clone His Voice (November 11, 2025)
• The Hollywood Reporter: Babe Ruth, Lana Turner, McConaughey - ElevenLabs Has the Voices (November 11, 2025)
• Adweek: ElevenLabs Launches Marketplace for AI Generated Celebrity Voices (November 11, 2025)
• ElevenLabs official website and company announcements