For over two years, listeners of EPIC: The Musical have experienced Homer’s The Odyssey through sound alone. The popular musical retelling, created by Jorge Rivera-Herrans, dropped nine sagas between 2022 and 2024, building a massive online following without any official visuals. Now, with the announcement of an animated movie adaptation, fans feel their long-held belief has been proven correct.
The musical has generated more than 4 billion global streams and over 7 billion short-form video views since its debut. Jerry Bruckheimer, known for producing Top Gun and Pirates of the Caribbean, is partnering with Rivera-Herrans and Atlantic Music Group president Kevin Weaver to bring the project to the big screen. The news ends months of speculation about how the audio phenomenon would make the jump to Hollywood.
Why an Animated Format Fits the Musical Better Than Live Action
The decision to use animation aligns with how listeners already experience EPIC. Since the musical has no official stage or screen version, fans created thousands of “animatics” (animated sketches set to the songs). These fan-made visuals became the default way to enjoy the story.
For many followers of EPIC, the connection between music and moving drawings is natural. One listener on Reddit commented on why animation works so well for this property.
“Yesss animated is the way to go! I really really hope most if not all the major character VAs stay the same”.
The story bounces between magical islands, monster lairs, and Mount Olympus. The Odyssey follows the Greek hero Odysseus over 10 years as he tries to return home after the Trojan War. Animated storytelling can shift between these fantasy spaces without the budget limits of live-action sets or CGI environments.
How the Viral Musical Built a Fanbase Without Official Visuals
Rivera-Herrans began writing the sung-through retelling in 2019 while studying at the University of Notre Dame. He switched his major from medicine to film, theater, television, and music. The project started as a senior thesis but quickly grew into something bigger when he posted clips on TikTok in 2021.
The first saga, titled The Ocean Saga, came out in 2023. New sagas followed every few months until the final release in December 2024. Rivera-Herrans voiced Odysseus himself and cast 25 other performers from around the world through online auditions.
Eight of the nine sagas reached the top three on Billboard’s Cast Albums chart. Four of them hit No. 1. The musical blends different musical genres with influences from anime and video games, making it feel fresh to younger listeners who grew up with those forms of media.
Fan Creators and Animators Shaped the Look Years Ago
While there was never an official EPIC cartoon, the fan community filled that gap immediately. Artists created animatics for nearly every song, giving characters distinct looks and personalities. Some versions of the song “God Games” show the gods arguing in a court-like setting, while other versions turn those debates into physical fights.
Rivera-Herrans encouraged this activity by commissioning various fan artists for official lyric videos and content. He did not lock the musical into one art style or one visual canon. This open approach let the look of EPIC grow naturally across the internet.
One fan explained that without a fixed visual version, the property stays interesting for longer. The lack of a single official look means fans keep making new art, and there is always something fresh to watch or share.
What the Animated Movie Announcement Means for the Cast
The question on many listeners’ minds involves the voice actors. The original cast includes talented singers discovered through TikTok auditions. But Hollywood animation projects often use union actors, which could mean changes.
On Reddit, one fan predicted what might happen with the voices.
“I hope we can all be at least marginally normal about the fact that 1. The voice actors will probably all change to union actors 2. Songs will absolutely be rewritten and 3. Songs will definitely be cut or at least reworked to cut down on time”.
Another listener shared a more open view, saying it would be cool to hear EPIC sung by Broadway stars even if the original cast does not return. No official decisions about casting have been announced yet. The project is in its early stages, with CAA preparing to present it to studios and streaming services.
Jerry Bruckheimer Makes His First Animated Film
For Bruckheimer, this project marks a new direction. The veteran producer, known for big-budget action movies, has never made an animated feature before. But he has plenty of experience with music-driven films going back to the 1980s hit Flashdance.
Weaver, who worked with Bruckheimer on the F1 soundtrack album, spent two years courting Rivera-Herrans to sign with Atlantic. The label deal led to physical merchandise and other real-world products, generating millions of dollars from the dedicated fanbase.
The timing of the announcement also connects to another major project. Christopher Nolan is directing a live-action version of The Odyssey set to open in theaters on July 17. That film has an all-star cast and is expected to be one of the biggest movies of that year.
How 4 Billion Streams Proved the Audience Was Ready
The numbers behind EPIC explain why Hollywood came calling. More than 4 billion streams and 7 billion short-form video views show a level of engagement that studios rarely see for an unsolicited project. At one point, EPIC occupied nine out of the top 10 spots on the soundtrack charts.
The musical found its audience through a slow rollout. Each saga gave fans time to make art, share theories, and build connections to the characters. This pacing is unusual for the music industry, where albums typically drop all at once. But the serialized format worked, keeping interest high for nearly two years.
The move into animation also sets EPIC apart from other Odyssey adaptations. Nolan’s film will use real actors and real locations (or CGI versions of them). Bruckheimer’s project can go bigger with colors, character designs, and fantasy elements that would look strange in live action.
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What Fans Hope to See From the Animated Movie
Although details about the film’s plot and release date remain unknown, listeners have clear wishes. Many want the original voice actors to stay. Others want the full 40-song tracklist kept intact, though movie runtimes may force some cuts.
The musical covers the entire Odyssey, from the Trojan War to Odysseus killing the suitors in his palace. Fitting that much story into a standard 90 or 120-minute film will require tough choices. Some sagas may get shortened, and some songs might be combined or removed.
But the core fanbase seems ready to support whatever comes next. Years of making their own art and sharing their own versions of the characters have prepared them for change. For many, seeing EPIC on a screen (any screen) with animation is the victory they wanted all along.
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