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I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve listened to Stephen Fry’s narration of the Harry Potter series. His voice has accompanied me on several road trips, helped me drift off to sleep countless times and kept my nerves at bay during anxious periods. It’s the only audiobook I’ve listened to that somehow feels both novel and oh-so-familiar each time I hear it.
So when I discovered that Audible, along with Pottermore Publishing, was recording an entirely new star-studded Harry Potter series, I was dubious to say the least. What could be better than Fry’s gruff Hagrid impersonation, or his impish Dobby voice? Why fix what isn’t broken?
We’ve been told Harry Potter’s story many times in many different forms. It appears that’s still not enough.
More than 1.8 billion hours of Fry’s audiobooks, along with Jim Dale’s narration of the United States’ English version of J.K. Rowling’s series, have been listened to since landing on Audible in 2015.
The platform promises its new series, referred to as the “full-cast editions”, won’t replace the classic versions, but complement them.
There are more than 200 voice actors, including A-list stars such as Hugh Laurie and Matthew Macfadyen, as well as an entirely original score and real-world sounds. The idea is that a listener will be completely immersed in Rowling’s magical world, as if they’re flying atop a broomstick right beside Harry.
To a certain extent, this is achieved. While listening to the full-cast edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, out on November 4, I was enticed by its atmospheric sound design – the clattering of cutlery during Hogwarts’ Great Hall feasts, the bubbling and popping sounds of a potions classroom, and the painfully sharp snap of a bone during quidditch practice.
Speaking of quidditch, the games scenes are by far the most immersive. Instead of being described by the narrator, these matches are told solely through the fictional world’s commentator. It’s as if you’re listening to enthusiastic radio commentary for an actual sport, interspersed with uproarious cheers from the crowd.
As for the stars’ performances, they thankfully don’t ham things up too much to compensate for the lack of visual aids.
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Laurie is playful and whimsical as Dumbledore, pulling on the cheekier side of the headmaster, and narrator Cush Jumbo (The Good Wife) carries you through each chapter with a confident enunciation.
Michelle Gomez sublimely delivers Professor McGonagall’s Scottish lilt, and Riz Ahmed (Venom) draws his nasally Snape voice out almost as well as Alan Rickman in the movies. And though we hear only a few lines from Succession’s Macfadyen, his breathy Voldemort is sufficiently eerie even without seeing the grotesque inverted nose.
As intriguing as these star-studded productions are, they’re filled with so much razzle-dazzle that the story – the heart of the project – gets lost amid the auditory chaos.
The first chapter of the Philosopher’s Stone full-cast edition – a vital tone-setting moment set on Privet Drive – is so packed with ambient sounds such as birdsong, barking dogs and bicycle bells that the narrator’s words almost become an afterthought. I had to listen to the chapter twice to acclimatise to the overwhelming soundscape.
I wonder how off-putting this could be for younger generations entering this world for the first time. Sure, the grand spectacle adds to the magic, but it also confuses the story.
The story itself has already been told many times, too – very successfully. More than 600 million copies of the seven original books have been sold globally, all eight films became major blockbuster hits, and the original audiobook series are among Audible’s most-played titles.
Alongside the new audiobook series (which will keep rolling out until May 2026), we’re also waiting for the new HBO Harry Potter show, slated for 2027. As wondrous as these particular witches and wizards are, surely we’re ready for some original material, or at least an extension of this layered universe.
Then, of course, there’s J.K. Rowling. The author has been accused of transphobia for her views on gender identity and for suggesting that trans issues affect women’s rights. Over the years, she has contributed money to anti-trans crowdfunding campaigns and also vocally opposed Scotland’s gender recognition bill in 2022.
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Rowling isn’t directly involved in the new audiobook series, but her shadow looms large given the backlash her views have generated.
Controversy aside, this full-cast version certainly is an extravaganza of famous voices and sounds. But it will still be Fry’s dependable voice lulling me to sleep at night.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone full-cast edition will debut on November 4, with each of the remaining six audiobooks releasing monthly.
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