--- title: "Fans Furious as Netflix Uses AI to Bring Gene Wilder’s Voice Back From the Dead for Willy Wonka Reality Show" description: "Netflix unveiled a trailer for a new Willy Wonka competition show, which makes use of Gene Wilder's AI-generated voice. Fans are not happy." date: "2026-07-02" modified: "2026-07-02" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/future-society/fans-furious-netflix-gene-wilder-voice-ai-willy-wonka" categories: - "Future Society" --- # Fans Furious as Netflix Uses AI to Bring Gene Wilder’s Voice Back From the Dead for Willy Wonka Reality Show ![American actor Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in the film 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory', 1971.]() *Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images* Beloved actor Gene Wilder, perhaps best known for his portrayal of the titular Willy Wonka in the 1971 musical fantasy film "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," died in 2016 at the age of 83 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Now, almost exactly a decade later, Netflix is trying to resurrect his voice using AI — without securing his consent, since the tech to do so didn't even exist back when he was still alive. The entertainment giant unveiled a trailer for a new Wonka-themed competition show called "Wonka's The Golden Ticket," which makes use of Wilder's AI-generated voice. Furious fans [reacted with anger at the development](), with some excoriating it for being "[disgusting]()" and a "[really horrible idea]()." Others called it "[unacceptable and disrespectful]()." "I hope this gets cancelled," one user [tweeted](). "Stop using AI." At this point, the widespread disdain shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Studios and production companies have been trying to squeeze money out of deceased celebrities for years now, often with the consent of their estate. It's only a small part of a [much wider backlash to AI]() that's been building up for quite some time. Wilder's surviving wife, Karen Wilder, agreed to have her husband's voice be part of the show, saying she was "delighted" by the series that "celebrates the imagination" of the actor. Netflix's controversial game show will have contestants take part in a "series of Wonka's temptations and challenges" to win a final prize, presumably in the form of the titular "Golden Ticket." "For the first time in decades, I'm opening my beloved chocolate factory," Wilder's AI-reimagined voice says over the [show's trailer](). Wilder is far from the first deceased celebrity being pulled out of their grave by AI. Earlier this year, for instance, the voice of comic book icon Stan Lee, who died in 2018, was [cloned for a "Stan Lee Book Club of the Month" by AI company ElevenLabs](), the same firm that helped bring Wilder's voice back. Other celebrities, including [legendary author and TV personality Anthony Bourdain](), ["Alien" actor Ian Holm](), have also had their voices cloned without their express permission. Just last week, famed Hollywood actor Tom Hanks [told *Entertainment Weekly*]() that he was afraid Disney could [one day use AI to replace his voice]() in upcoming installments of the "Toy Story" franchise. In short, Netflix's uninspired use of Wilder's voice isn't exactly setting the company up for success, given the widespread criticism. Netizens also criticized the derivative set design seen in the trailer, drawing comparisons with a disastrous 2024 event called "Willy’s Chocolate Experience," which made heavy use of AI in its marketing materials. The allegedly "immersive" experience — [effectively AI's Fyre Fest]() — turned out to be so disappointing in reality that children burst into tears and their [parents called the police](). "Perhaps the Wonka Experience was better than this (not that it's saying much)," one user wrote [scathingly]() in response to the latest news. **More on AI voices:** [*Tom Hanks Frets That AI Could Let Them Keep Pumping Out "Toy Story" Movies Forever*]() ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()