All-Star Cast Performs Fast-Paced Thriller Set between the First Two Alien Films
Audible Studios, a production arm of Audible.com, today announced the release of Alien: Out of the Shadows, starring Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner and Batman Begins) in his first role for audio, Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter film series), and Corey Johnson (The Bourne Identity and Kinsgman). The production is now available for download at audible.com/Alien.
This new installment in the Alien franchise was directed and produced by the renowned audio director Dirk Maggs (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and based on the original novel by award-winning author Tim Lebbon.
The story follows a terrifying fight for survival and an intense struggle between human and artificial intelligence. After Chief Engineer Hooper (Corey Johnson) finds himself in command of a stricken orbital mining vessel, he becomes responsible not only for the lives of his fellow crew, but also for the survivor of the only previous alien encounter, Ripley. When alien creatures are discovered loose on the vessel, the crew must face the ferocious predatory aliens as well as Ash (Rutger Hauer), the Artificial Intelligence on board the freighter that will stop at nothing to secure an alien specimen alive.
“Working on such a famous franchise was a challenge, but an amazing one to have,” said Hauer. “This was also my first introduction to audio work; it was fascinating to focus on just how powerful the voice can be for such a unique, non-human character like Ash. In the art form I work in, creating compelling audio drama is the ultimate illusion.”
“We are thrilled to bring terrific writers and fabulous actors together for the benefit of Alien fans,” said Audible EVP and Publisher Beth Anderson. “Together, we have created a new piece of the story line and a wonderful opportunity for fans to get lost once again in this fantastic world.”
The ALIEN film series starring Sigourney Weaver (Ellen Ripley) and directed by legendary auteurs Ridley Scott, James Cameron, David Fincher and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, is one of the most enduring horror sci-fi action franchises of all time. Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products has kicked off a celebration of the ALIEN franchise culminating with a special 24 hour, fan-focused social media event on ALIEN DAY, April 26th 2016 – a nod to LV-426, the planet from the iconic ALIEN films. Find out more about ALIEN DAY at http://AlienAnthology.com.
With a 30-day membership trial at Audible, new listeners can enjoy any one audiobook, including Alien: Out of the Shadows, free.
In addition to Hauer, Lewis, and Johnson, among the acclaimed performers who have recently narrated works of literature for Audible are Emma Thompson, Rosamund Pike, Dan Stevens, James Franco, Jesse Eisenberg, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kate Winslet and Tim Robbins. In 2013, Audible Studios won its first Grammy Award, for its production of Janis Ian’s memoir Society’s Child, and also won the Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year, for Colin Firth’s performance of Graham Greene’s The End of the Affair.
Audible, the world’s largest seller and producer of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word content, invented and commercialized the first digital audio player in 1997, and has since been at the forefront of the explosively growing audiobook download segment. In 2015, listeners around the world downloaded 1.6 billion hours of audio from Audible.com outlets; Audible members downloaded an average of more than 17 books over the course of the year. Two thirds of new Audible members are first-time audiobook buyers.