Netflix is resurrecting Gene Wilder's voice through AI for a new unscripted competition series called "Wonka's The Golden Ticket." The streamer partnered with ElevenLabs, an AI audio firm, to recreate the late actor's distinctive vocal performance for the show. Wilder originated the live-action Willy Wonka in 1971's "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and passed away in 2016. His widow has approved the project, lending legitimacy to Netflix's unconventional approach.
The show positions itself as a competition series set within Roald Dahl's Chocolate Factory universe. By using AI to resurrect Wilder's voice, Netflix taps into nostalgia while sidestepping the need for a new narrator or voice actor. ElevenLabs specializes in synthetic voice generation, technology that has become increasingly sophisticated in recent years.
This move reflects both the expanding possibilities and ethical complexities of AI in entertainment. Studios now routinely test synthetic voices for narration, dubbing, and posthumous recreations. Netflix's decision to use an AI version of Wilder rather than casting a living actor signals confidence in the technology's ability to authentically capture the original performance's cadence and charm.
The approval from Wilder's estate addresses one major concern surrounding such projects. Without family blessing, AI voice recreations can feel exploitative. The partnership suggests Netflix navigated those concerns upfront, setting a precedent for how studios might handle similar projects involving deceased talent.
"Wonka's The Golden Ticket" taps into the enduring cultural appetite for Wonka content. The character has experienced a renaissance through adaptations like "Fantastic Beasts" prequel "The Crimes of Grindelwald" and the recent Timothee Chalamet-led "