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Kenneth Branagh, the director and star of the forthcoming motion picture adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, has recorded a new audiobook version of the novel for HarperCollins.
The recording deal with Kenneth Branagh was agreed by senior audio editor Fionnuala Barrett. It will be released digitally on 19th October alongside the official paperback tie-in to the film.
Branagh, who plays Poirot in the Twentieth Century Fox adaptation, recorded the new audio book for HarperCollins this week, produced by audio producer and director Cherry Cookson. He is the latest actor to take on the legendary detective, following portrayals from actors including Charles Laughton, Albert Finney, Peter Ustinov and David Suchet.
HarperCollins publisher of estates, David Brawn, said: “Agatha Christie has been a jewel in the HarperCollins crown for nearly half of our 200 years of publishing, so how wonderful that in our anniversary year comes one of the most exciting Christie adaptations in many years. Murder on the Orient Express is one of her most important and celebrated works, and of course it features probably her greatest creation, Hercule Poirot. Kenneth Branagh is inspired casting and it is wonderful that, as well as directing and starring in the film adaptation, he is narrating a new audiobook of the original text, which will mesmerise fans new and old.”
Digital business rirector, Jo Surman, said: “Audio is one of the fastest growth areas in publishing and HarperCollins’ Total Audio strategy means that it is the only major publisher that produces an audio version of all new narrative titles for simultaneous release with print editions."
The publisher also recently launched The Story Hour on talkRADIO in association with HarperCollins Children’s Books.