For some reason, Netflix is making a competition reality show based on Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. No, it is not about an eccentric rich man who kills children and gets away with it. This show will have 12 golden ticket winners who have to “navigate a series of Wonka’s games, tests, and temptations designed to challenge them physically, mentally, and morally.” The sets take inspiration from the infamous 1971 movie starring Gene Wilder as the titular character. And, in groan-inducing news, Netflix will use AI to recreate Gene Wilder’s voice for Wonka’s The Golden Ticket.
You can check out a taste of what to expect in this show in the video above. Apparently, Netflix and Eureka Productions got permission from Gene Wilder’s estate to use an AI generated version of his voice. Wilder passed away in 2016 before AI really started to gain the foothold it now has in the entertainment industry. We don’t know what his feelings would’ve been about this choice. But we are sad that he doesn’t get to have a choice about his likeness in this show. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, his wife is in charge of his estate and made a statement supporting this move.
“More than five decades after Gene brought Willy Wonka to life, people of all ages and backgrounds around the world continue to find joy, laughter and inspiration in his performance,” said Karen B. Wilder, Gene Wilder’s wife, on behalf of the Gene Wilder estate. “Gene had a remarkable ability to bring humor, wonder and heart into people’s lives, and that connection has endured for generations. 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.”
Wonka’s The Golden Ticket will premiere on Netflix on September 23.