Gene Wilder's Voice Returns via AI in New Netflix Show

Gene Wilder's unmistakable voice is once again gracing the screen, thanks to artificial intelligence. Netflix partnered with AI firm ElevenLabs to recreate the beloved actor's voice for their reality competition series, "Wonka's The Golden Ticket." This project comes ten years after Wilder's passing in August 2016.

The show's creators aimed to capture the whimsical cadence that defined the original Willy Wonka. To achieve this, Wilder's wife, Karen Boyer, granted permission and actively contributed by unearthing old recordings and audiobooks from her garage. This meticulous process ensured the AI replica accurately reflected the actor's signature delivery.

This isn't ElevenLabs' first venture into recreating famous voices. The AI company has previously established agreements with the estates of Judy Garland and James Dean, among others. Their technology has also been used to generate audiobooks narrated by AI replicas of notable actors like Michael Caine.