Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin has found his next horror project on the back of the Netflix series wrapping its fifth and final season. Audible has announced that he’ll be leading the cast of Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi, a new audio drama thriller available exclusively on the platform. Written by Nyasha Hatendi, the drama premieres at the end of this month.
“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,” Hatendi said in a statement. “I am hugely excited for audiences around the world to experience this team of incredible artists, led by Caleb McLaughlin.”
Aside from McLaughlin, the full-cast audio drama also stars Kevin Carroll, Christina Elmore, Jessica Mikayla, Tongayi Chirisa, Charmaine Bingwa, Denise Khumalo, Sibongile Mlambo, Katherine McNamara, Nomsa L. Mlambo, and musical artists Tapz Gallantino and Tendai Maduwa. The drama’s synopsis is as follows:
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 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 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.”
Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi will be available exclusively on Audible from May 29. Check out the trailer below:
