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.”
