Blackstone, Disney Bring ‘Black Panther’ to Audio
In the wake of the smash-hit movie Black Panther, Blackstone Audio and Disney have jointly produced the audiobook version of Marvel’s Black Panther, a junior novel based on the feature film, which was adapted by Jim McCann. Iké Amadi, a Nigeria-born American television and voice actor, narrates. The story follows T’Challa, who is both king of Wakanda and the superhero known as the Black Panther, as he teams with his country’s special forces and a CIA agent to defend his kingdom. Blackstone will distribute the title, which has a release date of May 15.
Hachette Hails Quaid to Lead Clinton-Patterson Project
Actor Dennis Quaid (Wyatt Earp, The Right Stuff) heads a cast that includes actors Jeremy Davidson (Seven Seconds) and Mozhan Marnò (The Blacklist) in reading the audiobook edition of The President Is Missing, the thriller cowritten by former president Bill Clinton and prolific author James Patterson. In a statement to the Hollywood Reporter about the recording experience, Quaid said, “As I read each day, I felt like I was right along with the characters for all the shocking twists and turns you’ll never guess are coming. Patterson and Clinton have created a truly unique character in their ‘missing’ president, and I was honored to be a part of this thrilling production.” The recording also features an original score by Michael Bacon. Hachette Audio will publish the title on June 4, simultaneously with the hardcover, which is a joint publication from Little, Brown and Knopf.
Retta Reads Her Memoir for Macmillan Audio
In the audio adaptation of her memoir, So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know, comedian and actress Retta (Parks & Recreation) details the detour she took to Hollywood, following her graduation from Duke University, to realize her dream of becoming a comedy star. She chronicles her rise through the ranks to success, always remembering that she could lose it all in a flash. The audiobook arrives May 29.
Harper Catches “Blame” with Bianca Del Rio
Comedian, actor, and drag queen Bianca Del Rio, winner of the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, recently stepped into the recording studio to read Blame It on Bianca Del Rio for HarperAudio, out May 22. The program is a blend of snarky advice and no-holds-barred opinions on just about everything, delivered in Del Rio’s bold and colorful insult-comedy style.
Debut Novel “Colors” HighBridge Audio’s List
They Come in All Colors by Malcolm Hansen is a coming-of-age tale that follows a 15-year-old biracial boy who is uprooted from his small Georgia hometown to move with his mother to New York City and attend a prestigious boys’ prep school. The action begins in 1969 and toggles between the Deep South and the Big Apple through the early 1970s, as the author explores race, family ties, identity, and the meaning of home. Actor Ron Butler was behind the mic to bring Hansen’s warmly received debut to life, and the audiobook will be released May 29.
Groff’s Latest Showcases the Sunshine State at Penguin
Bestselling author Lauren Groff takes on narrating duties for the first time as she reads Florida, her new collection of short stories. Groff made it known to her publisher that she wanted to narrate these very personal stories herself. Florida a connecting thread in the stories, and Groff recorded the tales near her home in the state. The audiobook contains sounds from the La Chua Trail, where the author likes to hike. Penguin Audio will publish on June 5 simultaneously with the Riverhead hardcover release.
