As Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions reaches book four, there's trouble ahead in the wizarding world. With the stories becoming darker and more mature, a new trio of performers, played by Jaxon Knopf, Rhys Mulligan and Nina-Francis Barker, have joined the star-studded voice cast as Harry, Ron and Hermione.
With bags of talent and enthusiasm, they are well poised to take us through the rest of our favourite Gryffindors’ journey. On the eve of the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire release, we were lucky enough to sit down and chat to them about everything from their audiobook experience to their love of the wizarding world.
But first, here’s an exclusive snippet of the trio in the recording studio...
You are playing three very famous Gryffindors, but which Hogwarts house do you belong to?
Nina: When I took the test, I was Sorted into Gryffindor! Yeah, that was a fun quiz!
Jaxon: So, I did the test when I was younger as well and both times I’ve been placed in Gryffindor. However, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’ve always had something within me that wants to be part of Slytherin.
Rhys: You’ve said this before! I never got that! You’ve been given what everyone wants, to be Gryffindor, and then you’re like ‘I’ll just chuck it all away for Slytherin’.
To be fair, I remember we were saying that on paper the traits for Slytherin are good, but most evil people have them. So, they’re good qualities… just don’t be evil Jaxon.
Nina: Yeah! Don’t be evil.
Rhys: Weirdly, I got Ravenclaw. I remember because I was annoyed that it wasn’t one of the two main houses that I had wanted when I was little. Although, when I was looking into it, I was very happy because it’s more about intelligence isn’t it? Which is quite nice – I do quite like that to be honest. It was a very nice boost to the ego.
Tell us about the moment you found you had had got your role as a member of the iconic golden trio. Where were you and how did it feel?
Jaxon: I was at school and I was in the locker room. My mum called me on the phone, and she told me. Honestly? I was ecstatic. I was over the moon! I couldn’t show my emotions as I couldn’t tell anyone just yet. So, I was holding it in because otherwise my friends would have asked me what had happened. Obviously, it was an amazing feeling.
Also, finding that out is quite scary because there's a lot of pressure on you to live up to the expectations of the fan base which is so massive. You want to be able to give new listeners of the story a strong performance, but you also want to give your own interpretation and your own little bit of characterisation.
It was a lot of fun and there were so many different moments that you get to record. My favourite part was doing all the different spells. I think my favourite spell is probably Sectumsempra – the way it rolls off the tongue!
Rhys: Yeah, that’s some Basilisk talk there!
For me, I was coming back from school, and my mum was like ‘look at your phone’. I got the email and I was losing it. It was so good! My mum knows me, she knows I would have reacted the same no matter where I was. So, she kind of had a serious face taking me to the car and then, once she shut the doors, she was like ‘Ok, you can open your phone now’. I was screaming. I was ecstatic. I was losing it!
It was really good, but I think the most important part of the journey for me (like Jaxon was saying) was finding the balance. You’ve got two audiences that you’ve got to juggle with – the new and the old. You’ve got to pay respect to the characters and to the people who played the characters before because that’s what we all know. However, you also need to bring something new because it is new. With new media, new voices and new actors, I think it’s something really special. Listening to the first three? Honestly, it was the best experience ever. I really hope we’ve delivered to the same standard as they have because it’s brilliant and I’ve loved every second of it. It’s been amazing.
Nina: I found out through my agent, and it was a real mix of shock and excitement. I don’t think I really believed it until I go to start the project and heard the other cast voicing their characters. I think the first person I got to hear was Daniel Mays as Dobby. At that moment I was like wow – we’re really doing this! Harry, Ron and Hermione are one of the most iconic friendships in literature. To have been able to bring that to life has been really special and such a fun experience.
Next year it will be 30 years since the first Harry Potter book was published and this year marks the 25th anniversary of the first film. Obviously, Harry Potter has such an enduring legacy, but why do you think this is? Why do the Harry Potter stories remain so loved today?
Nina: I was saying to the guys before, I think what makes it so iconic for me is that the stories explore not just the battle between good and evil but the grey area in between. The goodies aren’t so good, and the baddies aren’t so bad after all. I think those layers are what makes the characters so relatable to people and what makes the stories so memorable.
Jaxon: Yeah, I totally agree. For me (and for a lot of people that I have spoken to), I really relate to the friendship of the trio and how core that is to the story. The loyalty that they have. They will stand up for each other no matter what. Yet, they have the strength within them to tell each other when they think something is not right and they’re not afraid to be honest. There are a lot of times when Hermione and Ron are telling Harry to chill out – just relax! He needs that. They’re his kind of anchors to the world. So, I feel like a lot of people can relate to their friendship and that’s one reason why people connect with it so well.
Rhys: What resonated with me were the parallels as a new actor trying to get into the acting industry. Acting is kind of a magical world that seems so out of reach. It seems almost like fiction to have a successful job and to be a well-known actor. I find that kind of links to the universe of Harry Potter. You have the Muggle world and the magical world and, in our world, so many people feel like they are forced to be a Muggle.
It’s similar to how Uncle Vernon forces Harry to stay in the cupboard under the stairs and how Harry can’t try out or experience new things. Then Hagrid comes along (basically kidnaps him) and takes him away and shows him that magical world.
To me, the main moral of the story of Harry Potter is you decide which universe you want to be in. You can choose which job you want. You can choose who you are – you just have to be open to new adventures. That’s been the main lesson I’ve learnt. Not only is it such a good series but it contains such good lessons – little gems hidden within the story. I’ve loved it ever since.
If you had the opportunity to voice any character other than your own, which would it be and why?
Rhys: Jaxon, I know you, I know exactly what you’re about to say!
Jaxon: What is it?
Rhys and Nina: Dobby!
Jaxon: Yes! I would love just to be Dobby. He’s such a great character. He’s so sweet and he’s so endearing. He just wants the best for Harry – I just love him so much.
Nina: And you do a good Dobby.
Jaxon: Thank you! I have to say, Daniel Mays is absolutely brilliant. The things that he can do with his voice are mind-blowing. He’s fantastic.
Rhys: Yeah, he’s amazing. The thing is, this cast is just stacked with so many passionate people – such as Hugh Laurie. He has such a great take on Dumbledore – especially how he’s a lot more relaxed. Even with Matthew Macfayden as Voldemort, you have a softer spoken, more delicate interpretation… which I find even more bone chilling. It’s so scary to be that calm. The talent in the room is immense.
I would like to have a crack at voicing Voldemort, but it’s already been cracked! It’s such an incredible performance – but I would like to give it a go!
Nina: I’ve got two. I’d love to voice Ron because I feel like he has the funniest lines and also, Rhys, there was so much eating that you go to do! I wish I got to do more of that. Or I’d play Moaning Myrtle because I think she’s a really fun character as well. She’s so eccentric and she is who she is.
You can hear this fantastic trio in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire which is now available on Audible along with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Fans can expect monthly drops of future instalments with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix releasing 10th March 2026, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince releasing 14th April 2026 and concluding with the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on 12th May 2026.
You can pre-order on Audible right here!
Watch this space for more news on this exciting project in the coming months.
The answers to this interview have been edited for length/clarity.
