New, full-cast audio productions of all seven original Harry Potter books will be released on Audible beginning late next year, offering for the first time the full range of character voices, real-world sounds and musical scoring for the recorded stories.
The project marks a partnering of Audible with Pottermore Publishing. Each of the seven English language audiobooks will be released sequentially for a global audience (the previous single-voice audiobooks, recorded by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry, will remain available. The Harry Potter audiobooks were first published in 1999 and since launching on Audible in 2015 have reached 1.4 billion global listening hours.
Bob Carrigan, CEO of Audible, said: “Beloved the world over, Harry Potter stories have captivated and enchanted fans of all ages for nearly three decades. With millions upon millions of Audible listeners devouring Harry Potter at an astonishing rate, we are thrilled about the opportunity to be part of this next chapter – delighting new and old fans alike with a reinvigorated listening experience that Audible is expertly positioned to create.”
Carrigan continued, “Together with Pottermore Publishing, best-in-class producers, and over one hundred actors, we will introduce a groundbreaking new soundscape for the Wizarding World, as well as performances that will inspire our listeners’ imaginations and redefine these quintessential characters for a new generation.”
Neil Blair, Chairman of Pottermore Publishing said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Audible on what will be a ground-breaking audio edition of the beloved Harry Potter stories. J.K. Rowling’s storytelling lends itself perfectly to the application of new audiobook technologies, and we’re certain this sophisticated, immersive audio experience will not only add a new listening dimension for existing fans but will introduce a whole new generation of listeners to the wizarding world.”
The complete Harry Potter audiobook collection on Audible also includes The Tales of Beedle the Bard performed by Jude Law, Harry Potter: A History of Magic performed by Natalie Dormer, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them performed by Eddie Redmayne, and Quidditch Through the Ages performed by Andrew Lincoln.
Watch the official video announcement of the upcoming series below.
