Per Variety, Tony winner Cynthia Erivo will narrate a new audiobook recording of Gregory McGuire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.
The novel, which was first published in 1995, is the basis for the hit musical Wicked, which Erivo now leads in its journey across the silver screen.
The Erivo-narrated audiobook is set to be released July 1, 2025, by Recorded Books. A previous audiobook, narrated by John McDonough, was issued by Recorded Books in 2005. The new audiobook is now available for preorder through most retailers, including Audible, Apple Books, and Google Play.
Said Erivo in a statement, “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.”
Wicked the novel is notably darker and more adult-themed than the musical it inspired. Presented as a biography of the Wicked Witch of the West, the book is the first in The Wicked Years series, and was followed by Son of a Witch, A Lion Among Men, and Out of Oz. While Wicked the musical is appropriate for all ages, Wicked the novel explores adult topics that may not be appropriate for children under the age of 15.
