Atlantic Records is making a foray into the audiobook realm with a full cast recording of The Mueller Report, featuring what the company described as "a stellar roster of voice actors," who will portray the leading characters in a dramatized version of the controversial report. No casting details have been announced yet for the project, which is expected to be released in August.
A spokesperson for Atlantic said the size of the cast will depend upon the volume of anticipated redactions in the nearly 400-page report. "In the audiobook business, I understand they distinguish between abridged and unabridged products," she observed. "This is a curious situation where the source material might be considered pre-abridged."
Attorney General William Barr is set to release a redacted version of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the Russia investigation later this month. Several publishers, including Melville House, Skyhorse Publishing and Scribner, are planning to publish the text with additional expert analysis.
Since government studies are not copyrighted, Atlantic does not have to pay for the rights. The company's spokesperson would not comment on whether a music soundtrack, featuring some of the label's stars, might be part of the project, though an anonymous source said representatives of Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Ed Sheeran, Kelly Clarkson and Skrillex are in preliminary negotiations. --Robert Gray