EXCLUSIVE: Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings) is set to narrate Odysseus Rising, a new Audible Original sci-fi adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey, written by novelist and popular science fiction and fantasy writer Adrian Tchaikovsky (Children Of Time).
The project has been in development since late 2024 and is now being lined up to launch February 25, 2027.
The synopsis reads: “After a decade of war, Ilium is reduced to a ruined world of ashes…The Ithaca, a ship besieged by oligarchs and parasites, resolutely awaits the return of their Captain. Carrying the weight of duty and the dead, Odysseus begins the long journey home, flying in the face of the Gods. But the Gods will not be defied. If Odysseus is doomed to never reach the safe harbour of his people, he must find a way to bring the Ithaca to him. And so, his real journey begins, not through space, but deep into time itself.”
The audio work comes on the heels of Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster movie hit adaptation of Homer’s epic.
Andy Serkis said: “Adrian’s re-imagining of The Odyssey is a staggering act of ingenuity. Transporting this ancient story into the distant future gives it new life and meaning. As an actor, having the opportunity to voice both Homer and Adrian’s creations is immensely rewarding and recording in tandem with Audible’s cutting-edge production is a dream come true. Listeners are in for a blockbuster treat!”
Adrian Tchaikovsky commented: “Taking on a project like this was a real challenge, working with the spirit of the original and exploring the concepts of gods, monsters and the great journey through the science-fiction tradition. Following in Odysseus’s footsteps and taking his travels into the realms of space and time, was a real privilege and I’m over the moon to be working with Andy Serkis on the project.”
Aurélie de Troyer, Head of Audible Content, International, added: “We feel privileged to work with two of the most prestigious voices in science fiction. Attaching both Adrian and Andy to this production, and supporting them with our state-of-the-art process, demonstrates Audible as being the home of cinematic audio storytelling. This project has been a long time in the making, and lands at a moment when interest in this classical masterpiece has never been greater, with a new generation of audiences discovering the power of Homer’s epic. What the team have done with Odysseus Rising is nothing short of remarkable and sci-fi fans all over the world are in for a listening experience like no other.”
