- Sci-fi audio fiction thriller stars Andrew Lincoln, Shamier Anderson, Paterson Joseph and Rain Spencer; produced in partnership with award-winning audio production company QCODE
- Official Trailer for “A BETTER PARADISE Volume One: An Aftermath” released today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and other platforms
- Storytellers behind GRAND THEFT AUTO and RED DEAD REDEMPTION are also in early development on television and video game worlds in the A BETTER PARADISE universe
SANTA MONICA, Calif -- May 16, 2024 -- Absurd Ventures, the entertainment company founded by Dan Houser, will make its creative debut with the original IP A BETTER PARADISE, which will premiere as a new 12-episode audio fiction series, produced in partnership with award-winning audio production company QCODE, on June 10, 2024.
Houser was co-founder of Rockstar Games and creative director and lead writer of the Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption and Bully video game series, among others.
"A BETTER PARADISE Volume One: An Aftermath" is the first story in an expansive new universe created and written by Houser. A BETTER PARADISE is one of several original IP universes he is now developing under the Absurd Ventures banner. Lazlow Jones, Houser’s longtime colleague in world-building and storytelling, is the series director.
The audio drama series features acclaimed actors Andrew Lincoln (THE WALKING DEAD), Shamier Anderson (JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4), Paterson Joseph (WONKA), and Rain Spencer (THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY), among others.
In addition to launching Volume One of the A BETTER PARADISE audio series, Houser, Lazlow, and the Absurd Ventures team are in various stages of development on multiple projects set in the A BETTER PARADISE universe, including additional audio fiction seasons, as well as television and video game titles. Set in the near future, "A BETTER PARADISE Volume One: An Aftermath" tells the story of the ill-fated development of an ambitious but addictive digital game-world project led by inventor and psychologist Dr. Mark Tyburn. As the advanced software they developed began delivering unexpected and disturbing results, the team fell apart under strange circumstances and the project was abandoned. The game world and super-intelligence within were discarded, left dormant and undiscovered. Until now. “A BETTER PARADISE Volume One: An Aftermath” is set to premiere June 10 on all major podcast platforms, with new episodes to be released weekly throughout the summer.
QUOTES
Dan Houser, Absurd Ventures Founder and CEO:
"I have always loved the intimate experience of audiobooks, radio and podcast dramas. Audio fiction feels like a really compelling way to tell the story of the A BETTER PARADISE universe and the characters within it.”
Rob Herting, QCODE CEO:
“We are incredibly excited to be a production partner to Dan and the Absurd Ventures team, who bring a completely unique voice to the audio fiction medium. Their record in storytelling is legendary, and they have created a universe and a series that lives up to that high standard.”
Today, Absurd Ventures has released an official trailer on all major audio platforms, as well as a visual trailer and brief cast reveal video on their social media channels, offering a first listen and glimpse into this terrifying new world. Listeners can follow A BETTER PARADISE now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and other podcast platforms to be notified when the series launches and to never miss an episode. Cast photos here.
About Absurd Ventures:
Absurd Ventures is an entertainment company creating new IP across all platforms and for all formats. Absurd Ventures is building narrative worlds, creating characters, and writing stories for a variety of genres, without regard to medium, to be produced for live-action and animation; video games and other interactive content; books, graphic novels, and scripted podcasts.
Storytelling. Philanthropy. Ultraviolence.
About QCODE:
QCODE, a premium content studio and leading podcast network, was launched in 2019 by former Creative Artists Agency agent Rob Herting. With chart-topping, fan-favorite, critically acclaimed series, QCODE has quickly become the leading destination for immersive storytelling in the podcast space. Hit series include the iHeart Podcast and Webby Award winning “Blackout” (starring Academy Award winner Rami Malek); Ambie Award winning series “Dirty Diana” (starring Demi Moore); Ambie Award winning “The Left, Right Game” (starring Tessa Thompson); Ambie Award nominated “Hank the Cowdog” (starring Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey) amongst many others.