Gene Wilder's Voice Recreated with AI in Netflix's “Willy Wonka” Competition Series, Late Actor's Wife Is 'Delighted'
Gene Wilder's Voice Recreated with AI in Netflix's “Willy Wonka” Competition Series, Late Actor's Wife Is 'Delighted'
Rachel RaposasTue, June 30, 2026 at 5:51 PM UTC
0
Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory' (1971).Credit: Silver Screen Collection/Getty -
Netflix's new competition show Wonka's The Golden Ticket will feature a likeness of Gene Wilder's voice created by AI
The late actor's voice was recreated with the consent of his estate
“Gene had a remarkable ability to bring humor, wonder and heart into people's lives, and that connection has endured for generations," said his wife, Karen B. Wilder
Gene Wilder's voice is finding new life in an upcoming Willy Wonka competition show.
On Tuesday, June 30, Netflix announced Wonka's The Golden Ticket, a new reality show inspired by Roald Dahl's Charlie & the Chocolate Factory that hosts "12 lucky Golden Ticket winners" and their partners as they complete challenges and games inside the fabled factory.
The show marks the 55th anniversary of the 1971 film, Wilder's Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, also inspired by the novel.
Wilder portrayed the iconic, eccentric Wonka in the movie musical, and though the actor died in 2016, his legacy will live on in the show, Netflix said, via AI voice recreation.
"Adding to the nostalgia, Wonka's The Golden Ticket will feature the recreated voice of Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, honoring the legendary performance that has enchanted generations of audiences," Netflix said in a press release.
The streaming service added that Wilder's estate consented to re-creating his voice for the show.
Advertisement
Karen B. Wilder, the late actor's wife, said his performance in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory still brings "joy, laughter and inspiration" to audiences.
“Gene had a remarkable ability to bring humor, wonder and heart into people's lives, and that connection has endured for generations," Karen said in a statement, on behalf of the Gene Wilder Estate. "We are delighted that Wonka's The Golden Ticket celebrates the warmth and imagination that he brought to the role, introducing that magic to a new generation while honoring the fans who have cherished it for decades.”
Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' (1971).Credit: Silver Screen Collection/Getty
The competition will conclude with one winner, who will secure a "life-changing prize," Netflix said. Wonka's The Golden Ticket is described as a "high-stakes social experiment" inspired by one of the most beloved tales from the last century.
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In addition to the likeness of Wilder's voice, the new show will also feature Rusty Goffe, who played an Oompa Loompa in the 1971 film.
Wonka's The Golden Ticket premieres on Netflix Sept. 23, followed by a two-part finale on Sept. 30.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
