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BREAKING: Deadpool Star Announced as New Lord Voldemort
Harry Potter Audiobooks Get a Blockbuster Voice Cast: Meet the New Dumbledore and Voldemort
What’s Happening?
Imagine listening to the Harry Potter books, but instead of one person reading everything, you hear a full cast of actors—like a movie for your ears. That’s exactly what’s coming! Audible and Pottermore are releasing a brand-new, immersive audiobook series featuring 200 actors bringing J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world to life.
IMPORTANT POINT
This is a full-cast audio drama, not a single-narrator reading. Think of it like a high-budget podcast or a radio play where every character has their own voice actor.
Meet the Heavy Hitters
Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore
- Who he is: A legendary British actor from Oxford.
- You know him from: Blackadder, House M.D., The Night Manager, and Veep.
- His reaction: He said he’s “honoured to have been trusted with the keys to Albus Dumbledore” and called it a “privilege” to join the line of great actors who played the role before him.
Matthew Macfadyen as Lord Voldemort
- Who he is: Emmy-winning star of Succession (Tom Wambsgans).
- Recent role: Played Paradox in Deadpool & Wolverine (a Time Variance Authority agent).
- His new gig: He’s stepping into the snake-like shoes of the Dark Lord for the audiobooks.
The Young Trio: Fresh Voices for Harry, Ron & Hermione
Because the characters grow up across seven books, two different sets of actors will play the golden trio:
| Books 1–3 (Younger) | Books 4–7 (Older) |
|---|---|
| Harry Potter: Frankie Treadaway | Harry Potter: Jaxon Knopf |
| Ron Weasley: Max Lester | Ron Weasley: Rhys Mulligan |
| Hermione Granger: Arabella Stanton | Hermione Granger: Nina Barker-Francis |
What Hugh Laurie Had to Say (In His Own Words)
“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.”
Translation (ELI5):
He’s excited and a little nervous because huge names played Dumbledore before him—like Richard Harris (movies 1–2), Michael Gambon (movies 3–8), and Jude Law (Fantastic Beasts). He also nods to Jim Dale and Stephen Fry, the beloved solo narrators of the previous audiobooks. And he jokes about John Lithgow, who’s rumored to play Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO TV series.
How Is This Different from the Old Audiobooks?
| Old Audiobooks (Jim Dale / Stephen Fry) | New Audiobooks (Full Cast) |
|---|---|
| One narrator does every voice | 200 actors, each playing one character |
| Like a bedtime story | Like a movie without pictures |
| Narrator changes pitch for characters | Real actors = real emotions, accents, ages |
Wait—What About the HBO TV Series?
IMPORTANT POINT
This audiobook cast is SEPARATE from the upcoming HBO Harry Potter TV series.
- Voldemort in HBO show: Not cast yet. The most recent on-screen Voldemort was Ralph Fiennes (movies 4–8).
- Dumbledore in HBO show: Rumored to be John Lithgow (per Laurie’s joke), but not officially confirmed.
- Audiobooks: Laurie = Dumbledore, Macfadyen = Voldemort. Locked in.
Summary
- Hugh Laurie (House, Blackadder) = Audiobook Dumbledore
- Matthew Macfadyen (Succession, Deadpool & Wolverine) = Audiobook Voldemort
- 200 actors total = Full-cast, immersive audio drama
- Two sets of kids play Harry, Ron, Hermione (younger/older)
- Not the HBO show—this is an Audible/Pottermore audiobook series
- Laurie pays tribute to past Dumbledores (Harris, Gambon, Law) and narrators (Dale, Fry)
FAQ
Q: Is this the same as the Harry Potter TV show on HBO?
A: Nope! This is an audiobook series from Audible and Pottermore. The HBO show is a separate live-action series still in early development.
Q: Who played Dumbledore before Hugh Laurie?
A: In movies: Richard Harris (1–2), Michael Gambon (3–8), Jude Law (Fantastic Beasts). In audiobooks: Jim Dale (US) and Stephen Fry (UK) narrated all characters solo.
Q: Why are there two different actors for Harry, Ron, and Hermione?
A: Because the characters age from 11 to 17 across the series. Younger actors voice the early books; older actors take over for the later ones.
Q: Will Ralph Fiennes be Voldemort in the new audiobooks?
A: No. Matthew Macfadyen plays Voldemort in these audiobooks. Fiennes played him in the films.
Q: When can I listen?
A: The article doesn’t give a release date, but keep an eye on Audible and Pottermore for launch announcements!
