Andy Weir, the acclaimed author behind "Project Hail Mary," is set to release a new sci-fi audio thriller titled "Exoplanet" through Audible on November 5. The Audible Original features a star-studded cast including Anthony Mackie, Ariana DeBose, and John Leguizamo, and is executive produced by Weir himself.
"Exoplanet" presents a unique spin on outer space thrillers, with its cover art offering the first hint of its narrative complexity. According to writer Benjamin Percy, the cover art "sucks the reader in right away and gives them a hint of what's to come" by depicting astronauts spiraling into a vortex across three different timelines. Percy stated that the mystery of what causes this "splintering of time" awaits listeners.
The story follows a team of astronauts whose ship is torn apart by a quantum anomaly, scattering the survivors across different eras on a dangerous exoplanet. Chief Engineer Jeff Shaw, voiced by Mackie, must navigate an unforgiving present to return home, while First Officer Becca Bang (DeBose) contends with a hostile alien past, and Science Officer Logan Bowers (Leguizamo) awakens in a future ruled by machines.
Weir described the creation of "Exoplanet" as a highly collaborative process, akin to filmmaking rather than writing a book. "When you're writing a book, you're a dictator. You are in control of absolutely everything. But in a collaborative project like this, it's everyone," Weir explained. He likened the dynamic to that of making a movie, involving numerous people and significant financial investment.
Percy saw his collaboration with Weir and Audible as an opportunity to blend genres. "This is an Andy Weir space disaster that has the Trojan horse of time travel inside of it," he said, aiming to honor Weir's legacy while introducing new narrative elements. He also highlighted how working with actors like John Leguizamo transformed the script. "The script is a baseline, but when John Leguizamo comes in and starts reading and interpreting the text, you come to think about it flexibly and realize that through conversation... and through improvisation that you can make the storytelling even more powerful."
Weir shared a similar sentiment regarding collaboration, drawing parallels to his experience on the film adaptation of "Project Hail Mary." He noted that actors often treat scripts as suggestions, and his own involvement in "Exoplanet" mirrored his active role as a producer on the "Project Hail Mary" film, where he provided feedback and notes.
"Exoplanet" is the first of several original projects Weir is producing for Audible. He emphasized his active involvement, stating, "These stories are curated by me. If I like the idea, then I workshop it... I'm not just a passive observer. There's a lot of back and forth."
Percy encouraged listeners to experience the full scope of the audio production, recommending good headphones to appreciate the "three-dimensionality" of the sound design. "Exoplanet" will be available on Audible on November 5.