New, complete audio productions of all seven original Harry Potter books will be released on Audible from the end of next year, offering for the first time the full range of character voices, real-life sounds and musical accompaniment to the recorded stories.
The project marks a partnership between Audible and Pottermore Publishing. Each of the seven English-language audiobooks will be released sequentially to a global audience (the previous one-note audiobooks, recorded by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry, remain available). The Harry Potter audiobooks were first published in 1999 and have appeared since their release on Audible in 2010, reaching 1.4 billion listening hours worldwide in 2015.
Bob Carrigan, CEO of Audible, said: “The Harry Potter stories beloved around the world have captivated and enchanted fans of all ages for nearly three decades. As millions upon millions of Audible listeners devour Harry Potter at an astonishing rate, we are excited for the opportunity to be part of this next chapter – and delight new and old fans alike with a reinvigorated listening experience that Audible can expertly create.”
Carrigan continued, “Together with Pottermore Publishing, world-class producers and over a hundred actors, we will introduce a groundbreaking new soundscape for the wizarding world, as well as performances that will capture the imagination of our listeners and redefine these quintessential characters for a new generation.”
Neil Blair, chairman of Pottermore Publishing, said: “We are delighted to be working with Audible on a ground-breaking audio edition of the beloved Harry Potter stories.” JK Rowling’s storytelling is perfectly suited to the application of new audiobook technologies, and we are sure that this sophisticated, immersive audio experience will not only add a new listening dimension to existing fans, but also introduce a whole new generation of listeners to the world of magicians. ”
The complete Harry Potter audiobook collection on Audible also includes TThe 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.
Check out the official video announcement of the upcoming series below.