Gene Wilder’s Family Breaks Silence: The Untold Story Behind the Controversial AI Voice in Wonka Series
Ever wondered what Willy Wonka would sound like if he stepped straight out of 1971 and into a Netflix reality show—only conjured by an algorithm instead of a golden ticket? Well, now you don’t have to imagine, because Netflix did exactly that, handing the legendary Gene Wilder’s voice over to AI (yeah, THAT Gene Wilder, who passed away in 2016) for their new Wonka’s The Golden Ticket series . But—hold on to your fizzy lifting drinks!—the whole thing has sparked a debate even wilder than the Chocolate River: is this a magical resurrection or just a ghoulish misuse of technology? The internet certainly has feelings… and honestly, so do I. Dive in as we unpack the madness, the marvel, and a sprinkle of pure imagination in the most controversial reality TV twist of the year . LEARN MORE
Netflix’s latest Willy Wonka themed reality show has been hugely controversial after it used AI to lend Gene Wilder’s voice to the series.
Wilder, who died in 2016, starred in the original film adaptation of Willy Wonka Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 1971 and is the ‘voice’ of Netflix’s latest reality series Wonka’s The Golden Ticket.
To say there has been backlash is an understatement, with Variety’s review of the show calling it a ‘ghoulish misuse of AI’ and one viral tweet saying: “Gene Wilder died in 2016 and never, ever gave permission for his voice to be used in AI like this. I am so much angrier than I should be.”
Despite this backlash however, Wilder’s family actually approved of the recreation of the actor’s voice used in the series.
His voice was recreated using ElevenLabs, an AI voice generator platform, with the permission of the late actor’s wife Karen B. Wilder.
Karen Wilder lent her support to the project in a statement earlier this year
The pair were married for 25 years before his death (Netflix)
The Wilder estate released a statement in June of this year when the series was announced.
The Golden Ticket will feature 12 pairs of contestants competing in the chocolate factory for ‘Wonka’s life-changing prize’.
Karen Wilder said in a statement: “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 humour, 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 honouring the fans who have cherished it for decades.”
She is not the only person close to Wilder to have backed the AI voice used in the show, however it has come under intense scrutiny online.
An original Oompa Loompa called it ‘magical’ when they heard Wilder’s voice on the show, but it has come under significant criticism
Goffe returned after 55 years to the role, coming out of retirement (Netflix)
Rusty Goffe played one of the original Oompa Loompa’s 55 years ago, coming out of retirement for Netflix’s The Golden Ticket to play the role one last time.
Goffe spoke about the use of Wilder’s voice on the show in an interview with the BBC, saying it was ‘magical’ to hear it again. He explained: “I thought, sometimes, he was on the set behind me.
“It was perfect, because he is Willy Wonka, he really is. Working with him was excellent. He was a lovely guy. Nice, kind, funny. He was brilliant.
“Gene Wilder is Willy Wonka. There’s no other person that could do it.”
Controversy online however has raged, with Variety’s review specifically noting the AI recreation of Gene Wilder as a major faililng of the show. They said: “A computer can ape Wilder’s tone of voice, but it can’t (yet) intuit comic timing.
“One imagines Dahl, whose sometimes monstrous characters captured childhood in all its messiness, would be relieved. I hope no one uses AI to try and ask him.”
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