An elite boarding school with a powerful secret society is a playground for cutthroat competition, dangerous liaisons, and the zero-sum games of high school popularity and Ivy League admission letters.
The full series releases July 20, exclusively and ad-free on Amazon Music and Wondery+
Listen to the official trailer previewing the Amazon Original song “Belong” from Windser.
Today, Wondery and AT WILL MEDIA announce the upcoming limited series podcast Academy, a coming-of-age audio drama about the overly ambitious student body of one of the most prestigious boarding schools in America, a secret society brewing chaos and power struggles on campus, and romantic entanglements that threaten to destroy everything. Starring Myha’la Herrold (Industry, Black Mirror) and Benjamin Norris (Never Have I Ever, Superstore), and a star-studded ensemble cast, Academy will be available July 20, exclusively and ad-free on Amazon Music and Wondery+.
Inspired by true events, the wryly funny, propulsive eight-part series follows the story of Ava Richards (Myha’la Harrold), a scholarship student who transfers to Bishop Gray. As Ava tries to find her place in this high-pressure environment, she soon crosses paths with an underground society known as The Night of the Wolf, which caters to the school’s wealthiest students and enforces strict secrecy (employing some questionable practices). With trust in short supply, Ava must navigate a dangerous and alluring world where friendships will be tested, romances will bloom, and ambitions cut short. The audio series features prestige-level sound design and score, as well as an Amazon Original theme song, “Belong,” from gifted singer/songwriter and indie-pop artist, Windser, an Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist to Watch, out July 20 exclusively on Amazon Music; pre-save the track here.
Listeners will immediately attach to the colorfully written, complex characters that surround Ava, including Jesse (Benjamin Norris), her star-crossed love interest; Amber (Stefanie Scott), Ava’s frenemy and a bona fide overachiever in every possible way; Noah (JJ Niemann), Ava’s cunning and conflicted handler in The Night of the Wolf; Charlotte (Victoria Grace), her bubbly co-worker at the school coffee shop; Layla (Sibel Damar), Ava’s razor-sharp stoner roommate with her sights on a new girlfriend; and Caden (Robbie Kay), the ladies’ man homecoming king who’s more fragile than he seems.
Blending the compelling human dramas of high school TV series, erotic scenes that push the limits, bitingly current social and class commentary, and scathing, laugh-out-loud moments, Academy is a highly bingeable, well-crafted treat. The series plays with the confusing and conflicting elements of life as a high school student: The impatience and optimism of a bright future on the horizon, as well as the dark undercurrents that convince them to do whatever it takes to get there, no matter the cost.
Academy is a Wondery and AT WILL MEDIA production. It is created by Anderson Cook, Christina Friel, Will Malnati, and Connor Wright. It is executive produced by Erin O’Flaherty and Marshall Lewy for Wondery, and Malnati for AT WILL MEDIA. It is written by Cook and Sidney Butler, and directed by Cook.
Series Description – Academy
Welcome to Bishop Gray Academy, a world of high stakes and cutthroat competition. Academy, a riveting coming-of-age audio drama co-produced by AT WILL MEDIA and Wondery, follows the story of Ava Richards (Myha’la Harrold), a scholarship student who transfers to Bishop Gray, one of the most elite and competitive boarding schools in America. As Ava tries to find her place in this high-pressure environment, she soon crosses paths with an underground society known as The Night of the Wolf, which caters to the school’s wealthiest students and enforces strict secrecy. With trust in short supply, Ava must navigate a dangerous and alluring world where friendships will be tested, romances will bloom, and ambitions cut short.
About Wondery
Wondery, an Amazon company, is a premium podcast studio known for character-driven, binge-worthy stories including Dr. Death, British Scandal, Even the Rich, and Business Wars, and distribution of hit partner shows SmartLess, My Favorite Murder, Morbid, and How I Built This. Wondery was behind eight of the “Top 25 New Shows of 2022,” according to Podtrac, including Twin Flames, Fed Up, and Will Be Wild. Over 50 shows from Wondery have hit No. 1 on Apple Podcasts, including Scamfluencers and Twin Flames. Many Wondery podcasts have been adapted for scripted television or streaming series, including Dr. Death and Joe vs. Carole on Peacock, and The Shrink Next Door and WeCrashed on Apple TV+. Wondery has gained critical acclaim and commercial success for its immersive approach to sonic, emotionally driven storytelling. The Wondery app offers a unique, personalized podcast listening experience, including access to its premium ad-free offering Wondery+. With Wondery+, fans experience early access, exclusive episodes, and ad-free listening. https://wondery.com/
About AT WILL MEDIA
One of the fastest growing independently-owned podcast studios in the U.S., AT WILL MEDIA is an award-winning production company with offices in Manhattan and Los Angeles, founded in 2016 by CEO Will Malnati. AT WILL MEDIA’s diverse slate of non-fiction and scripted originals consist of the Award-winning Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy, an Apple TV+ docu-series currently in scripted development at Apple TV+ with Imagine Entertainment, Unsealed: The Tylenol Murders with the Chicago Tribune and audiochuck, Breakthrough, the audio-only singing competition with Kelly Rowland, Sara Bareilles and Daveed Diggs for Audible, and Koz, the Audible Original starring Taylor Kitsch and Kate Mara. http://atwill.us
About Amazon Music
Amazon Music is an immersive audio entertainment service that connects fans, artists, and creators through music, podcasts, and culture. Amazon Music brings fans closer to what they love, with curated and personalized playlists, artist live streams, artist merch, and Amazon Exclusive podcasts. Prime members get access to over 100 million songs in shuffle mode, All-Access playlists, plus the largest catalog of top ad-free podcasts, included with their membership. Customers can upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for full, on-demand access to 100 million songs in HD and a growing catalog of Ultra HD and Spatial audio. Anyone can listen to Amazon Music by downloading the free Amazon Music app, or wherever they listen to music including Alexa-enabled devices. Learn more at https://music.amazon.com/.
