Gene Wilder’s Voice Returns Through AI For Netflix’s WONKA'S THE GOLDEN TICKET, Watch The Trailer

More than 50 years after Gene Wilderenchanted audiences as Willy Wonka, his unmistakable voice is making an unexpected return.

Netflix has teamed up with AI audio company ElevenLabs to recreate Wilder's voice for its upcoming competition series Wonka’s The Golden Ticket, and the late actor's family is fully on board with the project.

The streaming service also released the first trailer, giving fans a taste of what contestants can expect when they step inside a new version of Wonka's legendary Chocolate Factory.

The unscripted series premieres on September 23 and comes from Eureka Productions. Across nine episodes, 12 lucky Golden Ticket winners and the guests they choose to bring along will compete in a collection of challenges inspired by Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Roald Dahl's Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.

By the end of the competition, one contestant will walk away with what Netflix describes as "Wonka's life-changing prize." Sadly, there's still no confirmation that it includes an endless supply of chocolate.

Rather than using archived recordings, ElevenLabs worked directly with the Gene Wilder Estate to faithfully recreate the actor's voice through AI technology. It's the latest project from the company, which has also recreated the voices of entertainment icons including Judy Garland, Burt Reynolds, Michael Caine, and more.

The announcement was made on the 55th anniversary of the original 1971 film's release, making it a fitting way to celebrate one of cinema's most beloved performances.

Wilder's wife, Karen B. Wilder, shared her support for the collaboration in a statement on behalf of the Gene Wilder Estate:

"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.

“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."

The series also includes another fun connection to the original movie. Rusty Goffe, who played one of the Oompa Loompas in the 1971 classic, returns to reprise the role during the competition.

Wonka’s The Golden Ticket is another step in Netflix's expanding relationship with Roald Dahl's stories following the company's acquisition of the Roald Dahl Story Company in 2021.

The series was filmed in Australia and is executive produced by Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Rikkie Proost, David Tibballs, Alison Holloway, and Emer Harkin.

Using AI to recreate the voices of legendary actors remains a topic that sparks plenty of debate, but in this case the project was created with the approval and involvement of Wilder's estate.

It'll be interesting to see how fans respond when they hear his iconic Wonka voice welcoming a new generation into the Chocolate Factory.

Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think.