Willy Wonka Competition Show at Netflix Uses AI to Re-Create Gene Wilder’s Voice
Netflix is producing a Willy Wonka reality competition show that uses AI to recreate the voice of the late Gene Wilder, who played the iconic character in the 1971 film. The technology generates Wilder's voice for narration and character interactions in the series.
Background
- Netflix is producing a reality competition series based on *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory*, with the working title *The Wonka Experience*. The show will reportedly use AI to replicate the voice of the late actor Gene Wilder (who played Willy Wonka in the beloved 1971 film *Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory*).
- This is part of a broader licensing deal between Netflix and the Roald Dahl Story Company. The article raises ethical and legal questions about using AI to mimic a deceased performer's voice without explicit consent from their estate.
- The move comes amid ongoing strikes and debates in Hollywood over AI's role in creative work, particularly the use of generative AI to replicate actors' likenesses or voices without permission. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) has made AI protections a key issue in recent contract negotiations.
- Gene Wilder's family has publicly objected to the use of AI to recreate his voice, adding a layer of controversy around the project.