Wonka’s The Golden Ticket: A Tribute to Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka
Netflix's upcoming unscripted competition series, Wonka’s The Golden Ticket, is set to debut globally on September 23. The show will feature a recreated voice of Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, with the approval of Wilder's estate. Shot on the Gold Coast by Eureka Productions, the nine-part series will follow twelve Golden Ticket winners and their partners as they compete in various challenges inside Wonka's factory for a chance to win a life-changing prize.
To commemorate the 55th anniversary of the classic film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," Netflix announced that an AI reconstruction of Gene Wilder's voice will be used to pay tribute to his iconic portrayal of Willy Wonka. Additionally, Rusty Goffe, who played an Oompa Loompa in the original film, will make a return appearance in the series. This technology has been previously used to digitally recreate actors posthumously, such as Val Kilmer in the film "As Deep as the Grave."
The AI reconstruction of Wilder's voice was created by ElevenLabs, a New York-based AI audio company that has worked with other actors like Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey. Karen B. Wilder, Gene Wilder's wife, expressed her delight that the series celebrates his legacy and brings his magic to a new generation while honoring fans of the 1971 film. She highlighted Wilder's ability to bring humor, wonder, and heart to people's lives, which has endured for generations.
The production of Wonka’s The Golden Ticket was a collaborative effort with the Wilder estate and the Roald Dahl Story Company, which was acquired by Netflix in 2021. The executive producers of the series include Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Rikkie Proost, David Tibballs, Alison Holloway, and Emer Harkin. The show received support from the Australian Government, the Queensland Government, and the City of Gold Coast for its production.
Fans can look forward to the premiere of Wonka’s The Golden Ticket on Netflix on September 23.