Fans of the His Dark Materials trilogy are in for a treat. Ruth Wilson, known for her roles on shows like Luther and The Affair, will be voicing new audio versions of Philip Pullman’s classic books. This comes after she played the sinister yet complex Mrs. Coulter in the TV adaptation.
The audiobooks, published by Penguin Audio, will see Wilson breathe life into Pullman’s imaginative world filled with parallel universes. The trilogy includes Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. They deal with deep themes and have won lots of awards.
Wilson said she fell for Pullman’s world the first time she read the books. Playing Mrs. Coulter on screen let her explore more to the character than just her villainy, like issues of freedom and motherhood. Getting to narrate the audiobooks gave Wilson a chance to delve further into Pullman’s intricately-crafted universe, which was an honor.
Even Pullman praised Wilson’s narration, noting how she thoughtfully develops characters. He added that he enjoyed her TV performance and talking with her gave him insight on how seriously she takes each role.
The audiobooks will also include a special recording. Listeners can hear a conversation between Pullman and Wilson from 2021. It was recorded at Oxford’s Bodleian Library and gives behind-the-scenes perspectives on adapting the stories.
While fans of the original audiobook versions recorded by Pullman himself can still enjoy those, Wilson’s narration offers a fresh way to experience the award-winning fantasy series. Northern Lights is out in September 2024, with the sequels following in early 2025.
