‘Golden ticket’: Netflix drops trailer of ‘Willy Wonka’…
Netflix utilizes artificial intelligence to recreate the voice of the late Gene Wilder for its new reality competition series Wonkas The Golden Ticket
- Incident date
- Aug 2026
- Target
- Gene Wilder
Netflix has debuted the trailer for its upcoming nine-episode reality competition series, "Wonka’s The Golden Ticket," featuring an AI-generated performance by the late Gene Wilder. The show, which premieres on September 23, 2026, guides contestants through a series of challenges within a Willy Wonka-inspired factory setting.
What happened
The production team utilized AI technology to synthesize the voice of Gene Wilder, who passed away in 2016. Netflix secured explicit permission from the actor's estate to proceed with this digital recreation. The synthesis process was facilitated through ElevenLabs technology. In a statement provided by his widow on behalf of the estate, the family expressed support for the project, noting that the show celebrates the warmth and imagination Wilder originally brought to the role. In addition to the AI-driven narration, the production features Rusty Goffe, an actor who portrayed an Oompa Loompa in the original 1971 film, reprising his role as a factory worker.