Scandal's Joe Morton Unpacks the Drama After a Plane Crash, as Narrator of T.J. Newman's New Novel (Exclusive)

Emmy-winning actor Joe Morton is stepping back into the world of audiobooks.Courtesy of Hachette Audio, PEOPLE has an exclusive first clip of Morton’s narration of the audiobook of bestselling author T.J. Newman’s forthcoming novel Worst Case Scenario. The book will be published by Little, Brown and Company, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, later this summer, and the audiobook will be released by Hachette Audio.

Morton previously narrated audiobooks for authors like Ralph Ellison, Stephen King and Ta-Nehisi Coates, among others.Worst Case Scenario follows a commercial airliner that crashes into the small town of Wateka, Minn., after the pilot suffers a heart attack mid-flight. The plane hits a nuclear power plant, and Wateka soon becomes ground zero for an impending national crisis, set to have drastic global effects, according to the book's description.The story’s heroes, however, emerge amongst Wateka’s population — including firefighters, teachers and neighbors — who soon become the frontline against the impending disaster.

Morton is best known for playing Rowan/Eli Pope, the father of Kerry Washington’s character Olivia Pope, on the Shonda Rhimes series Scandal. He has also appeared on the TV series’ God Friended Me and The Politician, as well as the films Speed, Terminator 2; Judgement Day and Justice League.

“The plot twists are so unexpected, the writing so visceral, I knew from the start it was going to be a fun project to work on,” says Hayley Silverman, a producer at Hachette Audio, in a statement shared -

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with PEOPLE. “The biggest hurdle to this audiobook was finding a voice that could express the anxiety-inducing action of the nuclear incident and the emotional vulnerability of a town grappling with their crumbling reality.”

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“Joe Morton became the clear choice, and his narration does not disappoint. He builds vulnerability and relatability into each and every character. With carefully placed special effects to enhance the listener experience further, this project was truly a collaboration of a team’s audiobook production skills and, in my humble opinion, a must-listen-to experience,” she continues.

Newman, a former flight attendant and bookseller, is the author of the bestselling novels Falling and Drowning. Her books have been published in 35 countries, per her publisher, and both novels are set to become major motion pictures after being sold in seven-figure deals.

"I am still pinching myself every single day,"Newman told PEOPLE in 2023 of her success. "I cannot believe I get to do what I love and have always wanted and dreamed of doing. It's winning the dreamer's Powerball. I don't know how I got this lucky."Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer , from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Worst Case Scenario will be published on Aug. 13 and is now available for preorder, wherever books are sold.

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