Netflix partnered with AI voice company Eleven Labs to recreate the late Gene Wilder's distinctive voice for a new unscripted series based on Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The production uses this digital recreation to narrate what the source describes as a competition program featuring challenges drawn from both the original novel and its classic 1971 film adaptation.

Wilder famously portrayed Willy Wonka in that beloved adaptation, and his estate reportedly approved this posthumous vocal recreation alongside his widow. While the technology convincingly mimics Wilder's particular interpretation of the character, hearing that familiar voice over generic B-roll footage creates an unsettling effect that blurs the line between tribute and exploitation.

The move raises uncomfortable questions about consent and artistic legacy in the age of AI-generated content. Wilder might have delivered iconic performances, but the character itself belongs to literature and has been interpreted by multiple actors over decades. This approach feels less like creative homage and more like a calculated publicity stunt.

Using AI to resurrect a deceased performer's voice instead of hiring a living actor suggests cost-saving motives rather than genuine artistic vision. The technology works, but whether audiences will accept posthumous performances as legitimate entertainment remains questionable.