The Lord of the Rings Star Andy Serkis is Working on a Sci-Fi Adaptation of The Odyssey for Audible

The Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis is working on a sci-fi version of The Odyssey, written by acclaimed author Adrian Tchaikovsky.

Odysseus Rising has been years in the making, though will now finally debut via Audible on February 25, 2027. Serkis will perform the full text, which moves The Odyssey's action into deep space.

Deadline has revealed details of the project, which will see Homer's ancient Greek epic get adapted yet again — now to feature spaceships, space gods, and ruined worlds — just months after Christopher Nolan's IMAX blockbuster starring Tom Holland and Matt Damon.

"After a decade of war, Ilium is reduced to a ruined world of ashes," a blurb reads. "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."

It's a busy time for Serkis, who is currently shooting and starring in his new Lord of the Rings prequel movie The Hunt for Gollum. Yesterday, we got a first look at filming down in New Zealand on the franchise's iconic Hobbiton set. Elijah Wood was spotted (from the back, so you don't see his aged face), alongside dozens of background actors dressed as Hobbits. Other scenes will see Serkis in front of the camera, reprising his iconic role as Gollum/Smeagol.

Interest in The Odyssey remains high, even months on from Nolan's film arriving back in July. Unusually, the movie is still playing in countless locations, as audiences continue to embrace the film as a theatrical event that deserves to be seen on the biggest screens possible. Serkis and Audible will likely hope this interest continues into next year, when Odysseus Rising debuts.

"Adrian's re-imagining of The Odyssey is a staggering act of ingenuity," Serkis said. "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!"

Image credit: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images.