Netflix Using AI to Resurrect Gene Wilder's Voice for Willy Wonka Reality Series The Golden Ticket

Netflix has utilized AI exertion to revive the dependable of Gene Wilder for its caller Willy Wonka world show, Wonka's The Golden Ticket.

The nine-episode bid volition debut via Netflix connected September 23, and spot 12 contestants participate a caller mentation of Wonka's infamous cocoa mill to look challenges meant to trial their physical, intelligence and motivation spot successful the anticipation of winning a "life-changing prize."

A trailer for the bid released contiguous is narrated by an AI reproduction of Wilder, which Deadline reports was recreated by ubiquitous personage AI dependable institution ElevenLabs with consent from Wilder's estate. Of course, Wilder starred arsenic the infamous confectionary shaper successful the beloved 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, adapted from Roald Dahl's timeless novel.

If the sanction ElevenLabs sounds familiar, it's the aforesaid steadfast that conscionable released a caller mentation of The Odyssey narrated by an AI reproduction of Michael Caine, and besides precocious paid to seizure the dependable rights of precocious Marvel fable Stan Lee for usage successful assorted commercialized ventures.

"More than 5 decades aft Gene brought Willy Wonka to life, radical of each ages and backgrounds astir the satellite proceed to find joy, laughter and inspiration successful his performance," reads a connection from the precocious actor's widow, Karen B. Wilder, connected behalf of the Gene Wilder Estate.

"Gene had a singular quality to bring humor, wonderment and bosom into people's lives, and that transportation has endured for generations. We are delighted that Wonka's The Golden Ticket celebrates the warmth and imaginativeness that helium brought to the role, introducing that magic to a caller procreation portion honoring the fans who person cherished it for decades."

Gene Wilder arsenic Willy Wonka. Image credit: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images.

Alongside its AI Wonka, The Golden Ticket volition diagnostic immoderate existent endowment from Wilder's beloved 1971 movie successful the guise of Rusty Goffe, who returns arsenic an Oompa Loompa for the show.

The 93-year-old Caine antecedently described ElevenLabs' AI dependable exertion arsenic "using innovation not to regenerate humanity, but to observe it... It's not astir replacing voices; it's astir amplifying them, opening doors for caller storytellers everywhere." The institution present owns a room of surviving and dormant celebrities that besides includes Judy Garland, David Hasselhoff, Albert Einstein, and Matthew McConaughey — the second of whom has besides invested an undisclosed magnitude successful the company.

Last year, Sir David Attenborough issued a strongly-worded connection saying helium was "profoundly disturbed" that AI was being utilized to person him accidental beauteous overmuch anything.

Image credit: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social