Murder, Power, and Black Excellence Collide in Winston Duke-Led Audio Drama Kingsland [LISTEN NOW]

Winston Duke is stepping into a role unlike any he’s done before—this time leading with his voice. The Black Panther and Us star headlines Kingsland, a high-stakes, nine-episode audio thriller now streaming on Audible. The project marks the fifth collaboration between Kevin Hart and Charlamagne Tha God’s SBH (Short Black and Handsome) Productions and Audible, and it’s already turning heads for its bold storytelling, stacked cast, and timely themes.

Joining Duke in this audio drama are Yara Shahidi, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Jason George, Joe Morton, Jabari Banks, and Dion Graham.

Written by Dwayne Alexander Smith and directed by Nicole Shelton, Set in a fictional Black sovereign nation floating just seven miles off the coast of Georgia. Kingsland imagines a world where the U.S. Reparations Act gave rise to a utopia built for and by Black people—a place where Black excellence isn’t just celebrated, it’s the status quo. But behind its glassy exterior and billionaire-backed foundation, something sinister is lurking.

Duke voices Jamison Wright, a former FBI profiler who accepts a life-changing offer to relocate his family to Kingsland in exchange for solving a string of brutal murders threatening to derail the country’s 10th anniversary celebration. But as the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear this island paradise is holding on to more secrets than suspects.

Kingsland isn’t just about catching a killer—it’s a pulse-pounding meditation on race, surveillance, legacy, and the cost of building Black utopia in a world built to resist it. As Wright races against time to uncover the truth, one question echoes through every corridor of this hyper-secure nation: If Kingsland sees everything, why can’t it find a murderer?

The series was brought to life by producers Karen Kinney, Marc Gerald, Mike Stein, and the SBH team. Smith, whose debut novel Forty Acres is in development at Netflix, says the project pushes the envelope in both genre and message. “It explores race, power, marriage, and morality in ways that feel fresh and exciting,” he shared.

For Hart and Charlamagne, Kingsland represents the evolution of their audio storytelling empire. “This was a true team effort,” said Charlamagne. “We believe listeners are going to be pulled in right away.” Hart echoed the sentiment: “Kingsland is powerful and emotional, and everybody brought their A-game. It’s exactly the kind of story SBH was built to tell.”

With all episodes now available on Audible, Kingsland invites listeners into a world that’s seductive, unsettling, and unshakably familiar. One thing’s for sure—this isn’t just another thriller. It’s a story that dares to dream big… then asks what happens when those dreams come with strings attached.

To listen to the audible series, click here.