The streamer will premiere the Willy Wonka-themed reality competition series on September 23, some 55 years after Roald Dahl’s book Charlie & the Chocolate Factory was turned into a movie starring Gene Wilder.

The news comes with a twist: the company is recreating Wilder’s voice to use in the show using AI, a move that is likely to stoke controversy given concerns around the burgeoning technology. The use of Wilder’s voice has been recreated with the consent of the Wilder Estate with his wife Karen B. Wilder saying that she is “delighted” to introduce the actor’s “magic to a new generation”.

Deadline understands that Netflix worked closely with ElevenLabs, the AI audio company that counts Matthew McConaughey among its investors, to recreate Wilder’s voice. ElevenLabs has recently worked to recreate Michael Caine’s voice for an audiobook of The Odyssey and recently partnered with The Stan Lee Estate to create the superhero creator’s voice.

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“More than five decades after Gene brought Willy Wonka to life, people of all ages and backgrounds around the world continue to find joy, laughter and inspiration in his performance,” said Karen B. Wilder, Gene Wilder’s wife, on behalf of the Gene Wilder Estate. “Gene had a remarkable ability to bring humor, wonder and heart into people’s lives, and that connection has endured for generations. 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.”

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