We all love the Harry Potter audio books and we know a lot of our customers – and our staff – fall asleep to the dulcet tones of Stephen Fry or Jim Dale every night! But Amazon’s Audible, in conjunction with Pottermore Publishing, will offer a whole new way of listening to the Harry Potter series.
All seven of the much-loved books in the series will feature new voice casting with over 100 performers, original scoring and immersive sound design in Dolby Amos… but what does that mean? In practical terms, think of it as the audiobooks but with the parts read by actual voice actors, real world sound and effects that are next level professional and the score (or music) remastered and remixed.
Audible and Pottermore Publishing said in a statement that the new full-cast recordings will “bring these iconic stories to life as never heard before”.
Neil Blair, the Chairman of Pottermore Publishing, said in statement:
“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 CEO of Audible, Bob Carrigan, 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. 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.”
Production starts soon and the audiobooks are expected to be released late 2025. The single-voice audiobooks narrated by Stephen Fry and Jim Dale will continue to be available. Since launching on Audible in 2015, they have clocked over 1.4 billion listening hours globally.