The voice of the first Wonka, Gene Wilder, resurrected thanks to AI

Ten years after his death, the cult interpreter of Willy Wonka will return in a new Netflix show.

The unforgettable Gene Wilder left us 10 years ago. But Netflix will revive the voice of the legendary Willy Wonka… thanks to artificial intelligence.

The platform has partnered with the specialized company ElevenLabs in order to digitally recreate the voice of the actor, who died in 2016. This AI-generated version will be used in Wonka’s The Golden Ticketa new reality show inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The program will bring together twelve holders of a “Golden Ticket”, each accompanied by a loved one. Everyone will be invited to a replica of Wonka’s famous chocolate factory to take part in a series of challenges spread over nine episodes, directly inspired by the 1971 film and Roald Dahl’s novel. As a result, Netflix promises a “life-changing” prize for the winner. We imagine a very big check!

This recreation of Gene Wilder’s voice is accompanied by a new controversy over the use of AI to bring dead stars back to life, like that which followed the resurrection of Val Kilmer for his last film. It was produced with the agreement of its beneficiaries. ElevenLabs had already carried out similar projects by recreating the voices of Judy Garland, Burt Reynolds, or more recently that of Michael Caine for an audio book of The Odyssey.

“More than fifty years after Gene brought Willy Wonka to life, people of all ages continue to find joy, laughter and wonder in his portrayal, justifies Karen B. Wilder, his last wife, on behalf of the actor’s estate. Gene had a unique ability to bring humor, magic and emotion. We are delighted that Wonka’s The Golden Ticket celebrates everything he brought to the character, while passing on that magic to a new generation of viewers.”

Another nod to the original film: Rusty Goffe, who played one of the Oompa Loompas in the first film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1971), will also reprise his role during the various events.

This show marks a new adaptation of the world of Roald Dahl by Netflix, which bought the Roald Dahl Story Company in 2021.

Filmed in Australia, Wonka’s The Golden Ticket will be launched on September 23 on the platform.