Andy Weir Launches Sci-Fi Audio Drama Exoplanet on Audible
Author Andy Weir revives classic radio play formats with a star-studded science fiction thriller.
1New Audio Drama Release
Bestselling author Andy Weir is launching a new Audible Original titled Exoplanet on November 5, 2026. This seven-episode science fiction thriller features a full-cast production, marking a significant shift from Weir's traditional novel writing. The project aims to modernize the classic radio play format for contemporary digital audiences using immersive audio technology.
2Star-Studded Vocal Cast
The production features a high-profile cast including Anthony Mackie, Ariana DeBose, and John Leguizamo. Their performances are supported by Skywalker Sound, which provided the acoustic elements for the show. This collaboration ensures a cinematic listening experience, leveraging professional voice acting to bring the complex, time-traveling narrative to life for listeners.
3Complex Narrative Structure
The story follows the crew of the starship Wild Blue Yonder after a quantum anomaly forces them to crash-land on a deadly exoplanet. Each survivor is stranded in a different era, creating a multi-timeline survival plot. This structure emphasizes isolation and urgency as characters navigate their respective timelines while facing unknown threats.
4Creative Development Process
Benjamin Percy was selected to write the script following a competitive selection process among several talented authors. Percy utilized his extensive experience writing for major comic franchises like Marvel and DC to craft the story. He focused on blending Weir’s signature style of space disasters and quippy humor with a unique time-travel twist.
5Audience as Co-Author
Percy highlights that audio drama requires a more active engagement from the audience compared to passive film viewing. Listeners must use dialogue, narration, and sound cues to mentally construct the world, effectively becoming co-authors of the experience. This format invites deeper immersion by allowing the audience to fill in narrative vacancies themselves.
6Reviving Radio Traditions
Andy Weir has long expressed interest in reviving the golden age of radio plays, citing influences like The Shadow and The Lone Ranger. He views the current era of mobile technology as the perfect environment to bring back audio-only entertainment. Audible provided the platform for Weir to finally realize this long-held creative ambition.
7Strategic Medium Shift
Weir emphasizes that audio is becoming an increasingly important medium as people consume content on the go. With modern smartphones capable of storing vast libraries of audiobooks, the accessibility of such productions has never been higher. This project serves as a test case for curated, high-quality sci-fi content within the Audible ecosystem.
8Availability and Access
Exoplanet is available exclusively on Audible starting November 5, 2026. The series is accessible to Audible members through their subscription tiers or can be purchased as an a la carte option. This release follows the success of the Project Hail Mary film adaptation, further cementing Weir's influence in the science fiction genre.
Original article: Space.com — Andy Weir Launches Sci-Fi Audio Drama Exoplanet on Audible