It’s been 14 years since the Harry Potter movies ended, and the franchise is currently experiencing a lot of changes. After the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ spinoff series stumbled – with the first film doing well but later installments facing criticism and poor box office results – the original plan for five ‘Fantastic Beasts’ movies was abandoned. Now, the focus is shifting back to the source material – the Harry Potter books – to shape the future of the franchise.
HBO is planning a large-scale, multi-season television series based on the beloved books. Before that arrives, Audible is releasing a new audiobook version featuring a full cast of actors. All seven books will be recorded, starting with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which became available on November 4th, 2025. Currently, the audiobooks are exclusive to Audible and require a subscription, although a free trial is offered for new listeners. The release schedule for the remaining books is as follows:
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – December 16th, 2025.
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – January 13th, 2026.
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – February 10th, 2026.
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – March 10th, 2026.
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – April 14th, 2026.
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – May 12th, 2026.
Harry Potter’s New Full-Cast Series Sets A Challenge For HBO’s Remake
Audible has really invested in these full-cast recordings, adding features like original music and sound effects to create a more engaging and complete listening experience than simply hearing the books read aloud. What truly stands out, though, is the cast – it’s even more impressive and filled with famous actors than the one chosen for the HBO remake.
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Harry Potter | Frankie Treadaway |
| Ron Weasley | Max Lester |
| Hermione Granger | Arabella Stanton |
| Albus Dumbledore | Hugh Laurie |
| Severus Snape | Riz Ahmed |
| Minerva McGonagall | Michelle Gomez |
| Rubeus Hagrid | Mark Addy |
| Filius Flitwick | Fergus Rattigan |
| Quirinus Quirrell | Sacha Dhawan |
| Rolanda Hooch | Tracy Ann Oberman |
| Argus Filch | Adeel Akhtar |
| Vernon Dursley | Jeremy Swift |
| Petunia Dursley | Indira Varma |
| Lord Voldemort | Matthew Macfadyen |
| Narrator | Cush Jumbo |
Mark Addy as Hagrid and Matthew Macfadyen as Voldemort were especially brilliant casting decisions, and even more exciting choices appear later in the series. While it remains to be seen how all the actors perform, some feel perfectly suited to their roles – James McAvoy as Mad-Eye Moody, Simon Pegg as Arthur Weasley, and Ruth Wilson as Bellatrix Lestrange are nearly ideal, and it will be a challenge for HBO’s new Harry Potter show to surpass them.
Early reactions to Audible’s adaptation of The Philosopher’s Stone are generally positive, though not without some criticism. CNET praised how the characters, music, and sound effects combined to create a vividly immersive world. Collider described the cast as exceptionally talented and the production as truly cinematic. However, The Telegraph offered a more mixed review, specifically criticizing Hugh Laurie’s portrayal of Dumbledore. Overall, it seems this adaptation offers a fresh and engaging way to experience the story, and listeners are hopeful the upcoming remake will be just as good.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Full-Cast Edition) is now available on Audible.
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2025-11-04 17:40