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Andy Weir says his new sci-fi audio drama 'Exoplanet' is a way to 'revive the old art of radio plays'
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Andy Weir is launching a new Audible Original sci-fi audio drama, “Exoplanet,” on Nov. 5, 2026. The seven-episode thriller stars Anthony Mackie, Ariana DeBose, and John Leguizamo. Weir executive produces with author Benjamin Percy for the first in a series of curated sci-fi projects for Amazon’s Audible.
Weir, author of “The Martian” and “Project Hail Mary,” said he long wanted to revive the old art of radio plays. He grew up listening to “The Lone Ranger,” “The Shadow,” Basil Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes adaptations, and “Zorro.” He had considered creating full-cast audio entertainment before “The Martian” but never did, joking he was “really lazy.” Audible later approached him with the opportunity.
“Exoplanet” follows a quantum anomaly that tears apart the starship Wild Blue Yonder. Each surviving crew member crash-lands in a different era on the same deadly exoplanet. The official synopsis reads: “One crew. One planet. Three timelines. No one survives alone.” Lucasfilm’s Skywalker Sound provided immersive acoustic elements.
Percy won a competitive bake-off to write the script. He said his experience writing for DC and Marvel helped him channel legacy properties while adding a unique spin. He aimed to write his best version of an Andy Weir story, blending space disasters, big-hearted hopefulness, quippy humor, and a roller-coaster plot with a time-travel narrative.
Percy noted that audio drama invites listeners to become “co-authors,” unlike passive TV or film viewing. Weir selected Percy’s concept from numerous submissions, praising it as standing “head and shoulders above the rest.” The project marks Audible’s push into curated sci-fi with major talent.
“Exoplanet” debuts Nov. 5, 2026, following the theatrical success of “Project Hail Mary.” It is the first in a planned series of Audible sci-fi projects. Weir remains executive producer, with Percy handling the writing.
