Audible yesterday announced a new audio adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic novel ‘Dracula’, featuring Jonathan Bailey, Ella Purnell, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Aimee Lou Wood among its English-language cast.

The Audible Original will premiere on October 1 in English, French, Italian, Castilian Spanish and Latin American Spanish. German and Brazilian Portuguese versions will follow in 2027, a PTI report from Mumbai stated yesterday.

The English-language production will see Bailey (in the image) of ‘Bridgerton’-fame voice the character of Dracula, with Purnell as Mina Murray, Louis Partridge as Jonathan Harker, Aimee Lou Wood as Lucy Westenra, David Jonsson as Dr Seward, Lesley Manville as Mrs Westenra, Johnny Flynn as Renfield, Francis Lovehall as Arthur and Maggie Gyllenhaal as Professor Van Helsing.

Meanwhile, some other media reports indicated that the international casts of the adaptation will feature Omar Sy and Deva Cassel (French); Matthias Schweighöfer and Jeanne Goursaud (German); Riccardo Scamarcio and Benedetta Porcaroli (Italian); Asier Etxeandía and Claudia Salas (Castilian Spanish) and Esmeralda Pimentel (Latin American Spanish).

Audible’s ‘Dracula’ is directed by Mary Lambert — who is known for directing a film adaptation of Stephen King’s cult horror classic ‘Pet Sematary’ — in her audiobook directorial debut.

The novel is adapted by writer Robyn Ahern, recipient of the Bisha K. Ali Screenwriters Fellowship, for her first lead credit. The audiobook features an original score by Ilan Eshkeri, who has been associated with Audible’s ‘1984’ and  ‘House of Guinness’.

The official plot synopsis for ‘Dracula’ reads: When her fiancé vanishes in Transylvania, Mina Murray pieces together fragments of letters, diary entries and chilling testimony to hunt the predator stalking those she loves, only to discover he’s already hunting her. When Mina’s closest friend Lucy succumbs to his thrall, the enigmatic Professor Van Helsing is summoned to wage war on this unfathomable threat.

Aurelie de Troyer, Head of Content, International, Audible, in a statement said, “This is what Audible does best, crafting immersive audio experiences that transport listeners into the heart of the story.

“When Dracula whispers in your ear, when you hear his footsteps in the dark but see no reflection, that’s when you understand why we’re the home for this story. Our production elevates the psychological thriller at Dracula’s core, with the battle between Mina and Dracula as the heart of it all.”

According to her, Audible has assembled world-class casts across seven languages.

With director Lambert at the helm and a haunting score by Eshkeri, Troyer added that the company was “bringing this ambitious production to life just in time for Halloween”. (Image courtesy Audible)