Netflix is facing criticism after announcing that it will use artificial intelligence to recreate actor Gene Wilder’s voice in the reality show Wonka’s The Golden Ticket.
Wilder, who played Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), died in 2016. The recreation was developed in partnership with ElevenLabs, a company specializing in AI voice cloning, and was authorized by the actor’s estate.
In the trailer, Wilder’s artificially generated voice introduces the competition, in which 12 winners of “golden tickets” and their companions will compete in challenges inspired by Wonka’s chocolate factory.
Despite the family’s approval, the decision sparked a strong reaction on social media. Many users described the initiative as unethical and said the recreated voice does not convey the emotion and charisma of Wilder’s original performance. Others argued that a voice actor or impersonator would have been a more appropriate alternative.
In a statement, Karen B. Wilder, the actor’s widow, said the estate is “delighted” with the project and believes it will help introduce Gene Wilder’s legacy to a new generation of viewers.
In addition to the recreated voice, the show will feature Rusty Goffe, who will reprise his role as an Oompa Loompa from the original 1971 film. The series premieres on September 23 on Netflix.
+ Click here to watch the video
Photos and video: Publicity / Public domain / YouTube @Netflix. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
