Caleb McLaughlin to Lead Audible Original “Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi”
Audible today announced Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi, an enthralling scripted audio thriller starring and executive produced by acclaimed actor Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things). The Audible Original, produced in partnership with QCODE, and created by actor, director, writer and executive producer Nyasha Hatendi (Swan Song, Alex Rider, Casual), is the story of an African-American family's journey to Zimbabwe – but a trip meant to reunite and rekindle the bonds of a grieving family turns deadly when the actions of a guilt-ridden teenager unleashes an ancient evil. Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi is set to premiere Thursday, May 29, exclusively from Audible.
The Audible Original, which will be available in Dolby Atmos to fully immerse listeners in this captivating story, follows the Wallace family’s journey from Detroit to a luxury safari in Zimbabwe, Africa that descends into a terrifying nightmare. After unknowingly desecrating a sacred burial ground, 17-year-old Dashon Wallace (McLaughlin) and his family become targets of the Mbirwi, an ancient spirit summoned to protect the local community from the invasion of foreigners. As the shape-shifting Mbirwi hunts them down through an unforgiving landscape, family secrets and personal demons come to the surface, forcing all of the characters to confront their deepest fears. Weaving throughout themes of cultural dissonance, colonial legacy, and the complexities of the relationship between African-American identity and Africa, the audio drama is a thrilling and deeply thoughtful tale of survival, sacrifice, and redemption.
Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi pushes the boundaries of the audio medium in creating a deeply unsettling and profoundly immersive psychological thriller. As the Wallace family must confront their own internal conflicts, and the spirits from the past, listeners will be drawn into a world where reality and nightmare blur. Joining McLaughlin and the full cast are Kevin Carroll (The Leftovers), Christina Elmore (The Girls on the Bus), Jessica Mikayla (Project CC), Tongayi Chirisa (iZombie) Charmaine Bingwa (The Good Fight), Denise Khumalo (Khayalami), Sibongile Mlambo (Lost in Space), Katherine McNamara (Shadowhunters), Nomsa L. Mlambo (The Upshaws), and musical artists Tapiwa Mutingwende (professionally known as Tapz Gallantino) and Tendai Maduwa.
"Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi is both a haunting thriller and thought-provoking cultural commentary, allowing listeners to viscerally experience the horrors and emotional struggles of these characters as the story unfolds," said Caleb McLaughlin. "Dashon's deeply personal journey explores themes of family and identity in a way I think will resonate with many people – all while taking them on an electrifying adventure.”
“I am thrilled to present Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi – a coming-of-age thriller rooted in Zimbabwean folklore about the relationship between Africa and the African American identity, and the meaning of love and family,” said Nyasha Hatendi. “I am hugely excited for audiences around the world to experience this team of incredible artists, led by Caleb McLaughlin.”
Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi joins Audible’s diverse slate of full-cast Audible Originals, including George Orwell’s 1984, performed by Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Erivo, Andrew Scott, and Tom Hardy; The Big Fix: A Jack Bergin Mystery, performed by Jon Hamm, Ana de la Reguera, and Alia Shawkat; The Boar’s Nest, performed by Mandy Moore and Ebon Moss-Bachrach; The Safe Man, performed by Jack Quaid and Titus Welliver, and more.
