To commemorate the 55th anniversary of 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Netflix is reopening the gates for a select group of contestants. Their new reality competition series, Wonka’s The Golden Ticket, is set to premiere this fall. What's more, the star of that classic family film is joining the show's cast...from beyond the grave.
When Wonka's The Golden Ticket debuts on Netflix on September 23, viewers will hear the voice of Gene Wilder, who starred as Willy Wonka in the 1972 film, despite his death in 2016. Wilder's voice has been recreated via artificial intelligence, with the consent of Wilder's estate: says his widow, Karen B. Wilder, "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."
Wonka's The Golden Ticket will premiere on Netflix on September 23. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
