Fans of Wicked will soon be able to enjoy a new audiobook edition of Gregory Maguire’s Wicked: Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West with a very special narrator. RB Media announced today that Oscar-nominated Wicked star Cynthia Erivo will lend her vocal talents to the upcoming audiobook due out July 1, 2025.
In the official announcement Wicked franchise star Erivo shared, “I’m incredibly excited to narrate Wicked, especially after having had the privilege of portraying Elphaba on screen. I feel deeply connected to Elphaba. We have been on quite the journey together, and now I’m eager to begin an adventure with her whilst exploring the full world of Wicked and its myriad of other characters in the audiobook.”
“I’m looking forward to bringing this incredible story to life in a new way for listeners, and I hope it resonates as deeply with them as I know it will with me.”
Erivo has been a shining and relatable champion for Elphaba, so it’s neat to see this come to fruition as we get closer to the release of Wicked: For Good.
Troy Juliar, Chief Content Officer for RBmedia shared, “Three decades after its debut, Wicked remains one of the most clever revisionist novels of our time,” he said, referencing the book’s powerful perspective shift from the events of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. Maguire’s book depicts the Wicked Witch of the West as a misunderstood empowered rebel whose legacy spawned Stephen Schwartz’s hit Broadway musical and Jon M. Chu’s blockbuster cinematic adaptation.
He continued, “In that spirit, we’re revising and updating the narration of the audiobook to feature the novel’s most gifted interpreter. Cynthia’s work behind the mic, and her exploration of identity and belonging, will resonate with all who encounter it and bring these themes to life in a way that inspires and captivates a new generation.”
Wicked‘s new audiobook featuring Erivo’s narration is currently available for pre-order from RB Media for release later this summer.
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