#BOOKS: BRAM STOKER’S “DRACULA” OUT NOW ON AUDIBLE

Audible’s highly anticipated audio adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula is available now, only on Audible. The immersive, full-cast audio experience reimagines the classic psychological thriller with an all-star English-language cast led by Jonathan Bailey (Wicked) as Dracula and Ella Purnell (Fallout) as Mina.

“Playing Mina in this adaptation has been incredibly exciting because she’s not simply a victim in this story — she’s actively hunting Dracula herself. Their relationship becomes this intense game of cat and mouse, and Mina is absolutely determined to outsmart him and take him down.” shared Ella Purnell. “What I love about this version is that it gives her real agency and puts her at the heart of the story. Acting for audio makes it so intimate; you really feel that psychological battle between them.”

Jonathan Bailey added, “With a character like Dracula, every inflection matters, you’re building an entire world through your voice, discovering the darkest corners of who he is. It’s the kind of role you dream about. I hope listeners feel that same sense of being utterly transported, and maybe slightly unnerved, when they press play.”

Rounding out the stellar English cast are Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus) as Lucy, Louis Partridge (Enola Holmes) as Jonathan, David Jonsson (Industry) as Dr Seward, Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) as Mrs Westenra, Johnny Flynn (Ripley) as Renfield, Francis Lovehall (A Thousand Blows) as Arthur, and Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight) as Professor Van Helsing.

Director, Mary Lambert said, “Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a myth for the modern age. Stoker invented the vampire, who has become an iconic part of our culture and this Audio Drama is a brilliant reimagining of the ecstasy and horror of living forever. Working in audio gave us space to focus on dramatic tension, build anticipation with music and pacing, and we hope audiences will be truly captivated by this adaptation.”

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. But it is Mina, with her intellect, her resolve, and her gift for drawing unseen lines between clues, who may hold the key to stopping this ancient predator—if he hasn’t already found his way inside her mind.

Award-winning director Mary Lambert, known for the cult horror classic Pet Sematary, makes her audiobook directing debut with this production. Adapted by up-and-coming writer Robyn Ahern, recipient of the Bisha K. Ali Screenwriters Fellowship, for her first lead credit and underpinned by an original score by Ilan Eshkeri (Audible’s 1984, House of Guinness) alongside a fully immersive soundscape, Audible’s Dracula invites you to welcome literature’s most shadowy figure into your home. Feel the terror of being hunted. And experience the thrill of the hunt.

Also launching today are the French adaptation featuring Omar Sy and Deva Cassel as Dracula and Mina respectively, the Italian adaptation featuring Riccardo Scamarcio and Benedetta Porcaroli, the Castilian Spanish adaptation featuring Asier Etxeandia. and Claudia Salas, and the LatAm adaptation featuring José María de Tavira and Esmeralda Pimentel. Still to come will be German on February 9, 2027 featuring Matthias Schweighöfer and Jeanne Goursaud in the roles, and 2027 in Brazilian Portuguese, cast to be named.

Dracula joins a host of critically acclaimed Audible Original adaptations including Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and George Orwell’s 1984.

Available now on Audible audible.ca – Audible membership may be required.

About Audible

Audible, an Amazon company, is a leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, offering customers a new way to enhance and enrich their lives every day. Audible.ca content includes more than 900,000 audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals. Audible serves millions of members in over 180 countries with content in more than 50 languages; members download nearly 4 billion hours of content annually and listen across a wide range of supported devices.

#BOOKS: “DRACULA” WITH JONATHAN BAILEY AND ELLA PURNELL COMING TO AUDIBLE

The Audible Original reimagines Bram Stoker’s chilling psychological thriller as an immersive, full-cast audio experience. Releasing across the globe, Dracula has been adapted for English, Castilian Spanish, French, German, Italian, LATAM Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese, with each version featuring all-star local casts.

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. But it is Mina, with her intellect, her resolve, her gift for drawing unseen lines between clues, who may hold the key to stopping this ancient predator—if he hasn’t already found his way inside her mind.

The English-language production stars Jonathan Bailey (Wicked) as Dracula, Ella Purnell (Fallout) as Mina, Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus) as Lucy, Louis Partridge (Enola Holmes) as Jonathan, David Jonsson (Industry) as Dr Seward, Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) as Mrs Westenra, Johnny Flynn (Ripley) as Renfield, Francis Lovehall (A Thousand Blows) as Arthur and Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight) as Professor Van Helsing.

Pre-order Bram Stoker’s Dracula now, and hear the terror on October 1, 2026,

in German and Brazilian Portuguese in 2027.

#NEWMUSIC: JONATHAN BAILEY LEADS AUDIBLE’S “DRACULA”

Audible, a leading provider of spoken-word entertainment, today
announced its forthcoming adaptation of Dracula – an Audible Original that reimagines Bram
Stoker’s chilling psychological thriller as an immersive, full-cast audio experience. Releasing
across the globe, Dracula will be adapted for English, Castilian Spanish, French, German, Italian,
LATAM Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese, with each version featuring all-star local casts.

The English-language production stars Jonathan Bailey (Wicked) as Dracula, Ella Purnell
(Fallout) as Mina, Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus) as Lucy, Louis Partridge (Enola Holmes)
as Jonathan, David Jonsson (Industry) as Dr Seward, Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) as Mrs
Westenra, Johnny Flynn (Ripley) as Renfield, Francis Lovehall (A Thousand Blows) as Arthur and
Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight) as Professor Van Helsing.

Leading the international language casts as Dracula and Mina respectively are Omar Sy and
Deva Cassel (French); Riccardo Scamarcio and Benedetta Porcaroli (Italian); Matthias
Schweighöfer and Jeanne Goursaud (German); Asier Etxeandía and Claudia Salas (Castilian
Spanish); and José María de Tavira and Esmeralda Pimentel (LATAM Spanish). Each production
features a full ensemble cast.

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. But it is Mina, with
her intellect, her resolve, her gift for drawing unseen lines between clues, who may hold the key
to stopping this ancient predator—if he hasn’t already found his way inside her mind.

Aurelie de Troyer, Head of Audible Content, International, 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.”

She continued, “We’ve assembled world-class casts across seven languages, from Jonathan
Bailey and Ella Purnell to Omar Sy, Riccardo Scamarcio and Matthias Schweighöfer, exceptional
international talent delivering a truly global Dracula. With director Mary Lambert at the helm and
a haunting score by Ilan Eshkeri, we’re bringing this ambitious production to life just in time for
Halloween.”

Award-winning director Mary Lambert, known for the cult horror classic Pet Sematary, makes her
audiobook directing debut with this production. Adapted by up-and-coming writer Robyn Ahern,
recipient of the Bisha K. Ali Screenwriters Fellowship, for her first lead credit and underpinned by
an original score by Ilan Eshkeri (Audible’s 1984, House of Guinness) alongside a fully immersive
soundscape, Audible’s Dracula invites you to welcome literature’s most shadowy figure into your
home. Feel the terror of being hunted. And experience the thrill of the hunt.
Audible’s Dracula launches only on Audible on:

• October 1, 2026: English, French, Italian, Castilian Spanish, LATAM Spanish
• February 9, 2027: German
• 2027 (date and cast to be announced): Brazilian Portuguese
  Dracula joins a host of critically acclaimed Audible Original adaptations including Jane Austen’s
  Pride and Prejudice and George Orwell’s 1984.

Available now to pre-order on Audible at www.audible.co.uk

Audible membership may be required.

About Audible
Audible, an Amazon company, is a leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, offering
customers a new way to enhance and enrich their lives every day. Audible.co.uk content includes more
than 900,000 audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals. Audible serves millions of members in over
180 countries with content in more than 50 languages; members download nearly 4 billion hours of
content annually and listen across a wide range of supported devices.

#BOXOFFICE: “SEND HELP” HANGS ON A SECOND WEEK

SEND HELP hangs on a second weekend – albeit – a slow weekend with $10 million from 3,475 theatres for 20th Century Studios. Thus far, it has grossed $35.8 million domestically.

Second is SOLO MIO with $7.6 million from 3,052 theatres for Angel Studios. The faith film starring Kevin James, gets 81% on the Tomatometer.

Third up is STRAY KIDS: THE DOMINATE EXPERIENCE with $5 million for Bleecker Street.

Luc Besson‘s DRACULA debuts in fourth with $4.8 million for Vertical and Game Theory Films. It gets 55% on the Tomatometer.

IRON LUNG rounds out the Top Five with $4.6 million from 2,930 theatres for Markiplier. It is just shy of $30 million already over two weekends.

#SPOTTED: JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS IN TORONTO FOR “THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS”

Umm… if he looks this good on a day off, just how good does he look like when he’s glammed-up?  Toronto Fans have long been hungry for the incredible Jonathan Rhys Meyers  and on a chance run-in (honest!) tonight , I crossed paths with him and a Friend after enjoying some Italian this Canadian Thanksgiving Day.

The brilliant Actor is known best for his eclectic and amazing Body of Work which includes Bend it like Beckham, Woody Allen‘s Match Point and more recently award-worthy turns in CBS Mini-Series Elvis and Showtime‘s The Tudors.  He tells me he arrived in Toronto about a week ago to begin work on The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.  This first Adaptation of Cassandra Clare‘s popular Novels has Meyers starring as Arch Villain Valentine Morgenstern, who happens also to be the Biological Father of Clary Fray (Lily Collins) and also the Adoptive Father of Jace Lightwood (Jamie Campbell Bower).

Although filming for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is set to wrap early next month, Meyers simultaneously is getting ready to begin work in the Titular Role on upcoming NBC Series, Dracula.  Set in London, Dracula poses as an American Businessman who secretly wants to seek revenge on those who ruined his life centuries ago.

Meyers is a true Class Act and noticing off-the-bat our Photo didn’t turn-out the first time, he asked kindly that his lovely Friend take  another, before wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving!   A real honour – one of the greatest Actors of my Generation.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)