Netflix revealed it is bringing one of Hollywood's most recognizable voices back with AI for the upcoming reality competition "Wonka's The Golden Ticket." The show will feature an AI-generated recreation of Gene Wilder's voice, nearly a decade after the beloved actor died in 2016. According to Variety, the show premieres September 23 and is produced by Eureka Productions. It will follow 12 golden ticket winners and their chosen partners as they compete in a series of games over nine episodes inspired by the 1971 film "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" and Roald Dahl's source novel.
Rather than hiring an impersonator, Netflix worked with AI voice company ElevenLabs and Gene Wilder's estate to recreate the actor's voice for entirely new narration. As NBC News reported, the show's teaser features the AI-generated Wilder saying things like "the most extraordinary competition on Earth is about to begin," dialogue that never appeared in the original film.
