Netflix Slammed After Using AI to Recreate Late Gene Wilder’s Voice for Willy Wonka Competition…

Netflix has drawn significant backlash from fans and critics after announcing the use of AI to synthesize the voice of the late actor Gene Wilder for its upcoming reality competition series, Wonka’s The Golden Ticket. The show, which is scheduled to premiere on September 23, utilizes this synthetic audio to feature Wilder as the narrator, reprising his iconic role as Willy Wonka.

What happened

The controversy began on June 30, 2024, when Netflix released a teaser for the series. Viewers immediately criticized the decision to use AI to replicate the voice of the actor, who passed away in 2016. Social media users expressed discomfort with the technology, labeling the move as "scummy" and arguing that the production relied on celebrity nostalgia rather than authentic creative choices. Commenters suggested that the streamer could have instead utilized contemporary actors, such as Timothée Chalamet, to narrate the program.

Despite the negative public reception, the production was sanctioned by the actor’s estate. Netflix collaborated with the AI firm ElevenLabs to execute the voice recreation. In an official statement, Karen Wilder, the late actor's wife, noted that the estate was "delighted" to approve the use of the technology. She stated that the project serves to celebrate the "warmth and imagination" Gene Wilder brought to the original 1971 film, aiming to introduce his performance to a younger generation. The series itself will feature 12 contestants competing in challenges set within a chocolate factory environment, with the show drawing inspiration from both Roald Dahl’s original 1964 novel and the classic film. The production will also feature the return of Rusty Goffe, an actor who appeared as an Oompa Loompa in the 1971 movie.