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highplainsdem

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12. The Independent: Netflix faces backlash over AI-recreated Gene Wilder voice for new Willy Wonka competition series

Tue Jun 30, 2026, 06:39 PM

6 hrs ago

https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/netflix-willy-wonka-gene-wilder-ai-b3006104.html

The reveal of the AI-generated voice has failed to spark wonder with fans of Wilder or the 1971 film. One wrote on X: “Gene is rolling in his grave.”

Another opined that the AI voice “almost sounds like gene wilder, but not really and is a plastic substitute that people will eat up because the robots have made them stupid, This is an obscenity.”

A third added: “Someone should have voiced this better, the ai voice lacks emotion, no soul no depth.”

While another wrote: “WORST VERSION OF HIS VOICE! WTAF… you couldn’t go with more than one take from the AI bot?! I could probably piece together an amalgamation of just things genes said in movies and get a smoother more natural dialogue feels… he said ‘extraordinary’ entirely WRONG… rip Gene.”

The article also links to Wilder's last interview, in 2013, in which he explained that he left Hollywood in 1991 because of "the kind of junk" they were doing: "I didn’t want to do 3D, for instance."

Somehow I doubt he'd have been happy to be told there'd be an AI clone of his voice to host a reality show.

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This is grotesque. Netflix is using an AI clone of the late Gene Wilder's voice to host a new reality series. [View all] highplainsdem 10 hrs ago OP

Hopefully... 2naSalit 10 hrs ago #1

Was this done in cooperation with Gene Wilder's estate? cab67 10 hrs ago #2

From the OP TheProle 10 hrs ago #3

That wasn't generative AI, which didn't exist when that film was made. AI voice generators, like highplainsdem 9 hrs ago #7

They are not 'trained'... Ohio Joe 4 hrs ago #18

They are trained. That's the term used. highplainsdem 4 hrs ago #19

so if the wilder estate is good with it then ... ? good for them, i guess orleans 10 hrs ago #4

Your opinion counts as far as whether it's ethical. IMO it's unethical. It harms all actors if AI replacement highplainsdem 9 hrs ago #5

well, if you want to talk about AI ethics then i agree with everything you said orleans 3 hrs ago #20

I hate seeing creatives in one field using AI that rips off creatives in another field, too. The excuses highplainsdem 3 hrs ago #21

my approval or disapproval would depend heavily on context. cab67 9 hrs ago #6

johnny depp played willy wonka in a remake back in 2005. i liked johnny depp but i remember hearing orleans 4 hrs ago #17

It's not a very good recreation of his voice. imo. spanone 7 hrs ago #8

I agree. highplainsdem 6 hrs ago #14

It isn't. chowder66 5 hrs ago #16

From Consequence: highplainsdem 6 hrs ago #9

It is grotesque. Kid Berwyn 6 hrs ago #10

It's important to resist it. To make it clear AI's pretense of creativity and humanity will never be acceptable. highplainsdem 6 hrs ago #15

From Vulture (New York magazine): highplainsdem 6 hrs ago #11

The Independent: Netflix faces backlash over AI-recreated Gene Wilder voice for new Willy Wonka competition series highplainsdem 6 hrs ago #12

And Lance Ulanoff, editor of TechRadar and an AI fan, says this misuse of AI "broke" him: highplainsdem 6 hrs ago #13