“Harry Potter” Full-Cast Audiobooks: Launch Date and Cast Revealed, Including Hugh Laurie and Arabella Stanton
For the first time, all seven Harry Potter books will be released as full-cast audio productions, bringing the stories to life with a large ensemble of actors, sound effects, and music.
It’s been over a year since Audible announced that the Potter books were to be released as full-cast audiobooks, with an initial release date of “late 2025” given. Audible and Pottermore Publishing have now confirmed that the first audiobook will be available on November 4, 2025.
Unlike the original, single-narrator versions by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry, which are still available and much loved, these new editions will feature over 200 distinct voices, detailed soundscapes, and an original musical score. The audio will be mixed in Dolby Atmos, giving listeners a sense of space and movement, almost like hearing the story play out as a radio drama.
The cast features several well-known performers: Sir Hugh Laurie (House, Blackadder) as Albus Dumbledore, Matthew Macfadyen (Succession, Pride & Prejudice) as Lord Voldemort, Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal, Rogue One) as Professor Snape, Michelle Gomez (Doctor Who, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) as Professor McGonagall, and Cush Jumbo (The Good Fight, Vera) as the narrator.
Laurie discussed his thoughts on taking on the iconic role of Albus Dumbledore (via HarryPotter.com).
I’m honoured to have been trusted with the keys to Albus Dumbledore, and thrilled to be able to take him around the track of this beautiful incarnation by Pottermore and Audible. I’m also deeply conscious of previous drivers Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Jude Law and the iconic narrations by Jim Dale and m’colleague Sir Stephen Fry. Just below the horizon, but headed our way, is the rough beast John Lithgow, his hour come round at last. This is great company, and it’s a privilege to be among their number.
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Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester, and Arabella Stanton will play Harry, Ron, and Hermione, respectively, for the first three books. You may recognize Stanton as having been cast as Hermione within HBO’s Harry Potter TV series. Jaxon Knopf, Rhys Mulligan, and Nina Barker-Francis are taking on the roles from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire onwards. More cast members are expected to be announced at a later date.
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The books will be released in order, starting with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in November, with each subsequent book released every month thereafter:
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone – November 4, 2025
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – December 16, 2025
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – January 13, 2026
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – February 10, 2026
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – March 10, 2026
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – April 14, 2026
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – May 12, 2026
For listeners who have grown up with the original audiobooks, this new way of listening to the series is intended to complement the original audiobooks, not replace them. The sound design will aim to match the events in the books, and while the core story is unchanged, the presentation should give long-time fans new details to notice and help first-time listeners picture the world more vividly.
The series will be available through Audible and other participating audiobook platforms, with preorders open now.
