Netflix to use AI to bring back Gene Wilder’s Wonka

WASHINGTON: Netflix said its upcoming reality competition show based on the world of Willy Wonka will include an artificial intelligence-generated version of Gene Wilder’s voice, produced in partnership with voice technology company ElevenLabs.

The series, titled Wonka’s The Golden Ticket, is scheduled to debut on September 23. Netflix is making the production with the Roald Dahl Story Company — which the streaming company bought in 2021 — as well as the Gene Wilder Estate. Wilder, who played the title character in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, died in 2016 at the age of 83.

Estate backs the project

In a statement issued on behalf of the estate, Wilder’s widow Karen B Wilder said the actor’s portrayal has continued to resonate with audiences decades later. "More than five decades after Gene brought Willy Wonka to life, people of all ages and backgrounds around the world continue to find joy, laughter and inspiration in his performance."

"Gene had a remarkable ability to bring humour, wonder and heart into people's lives, and that connection has endured for generations," she added.

ElevenLabs is known for AI-generated speech and voice-cloning tools. The announcement places Wilder among a number of deceased Hollywood performers whose voices or likenesses have been recreated using artificial intelligence, including Carrie Fisher, Harold Ramis and Paul Walker.

Format of the new show

According to the announcement, Wonka’s The Golden Ticket will bring together 12 holders of golden tickets, each joined by a partner, for a contest set inside Wonka’s fantasy world. Participants will face games, challenges and temptations, with a single contestant ultimately winning the top prize.

The programme will also include Rusty Goffe, who is returning as an Oompa Loompa from the original film.

Beyond his best-known turn as Wonka, Wilder’s screen career included acclaimed roles in The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. Netflix’s use of AI to recreate his voice marks another instance of entertainment companies turning to the technology to revive familiar performances from screen history.