Wonka's The Golden Ticket is an American reality competition television series that premiered on Netflix on September 23, 2026. It is based on Roald Dahl's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
Twelve pairs with a pre-existing relationship enter a recreated chocolate factory with a partner and compete in a series of challenges for a cash prize described as a "lifetime supply of money" – $3 million paid over 30 years.
The first seven episodes of season 1 were released on September 23, with the final two episodes released on September 30.
Premise Contestants receive chocolate bars that may contain a Golden Ticket, those who find one bring a partner into the factory. Once inside they take part in physical games, tests of judgment, and various temptations built around elements from the original story. The elements include a chocolate river, lickable wallpaper, a forced-perspective hallway, and “Wonkavision” challenges. Contestants are eliminated until one winner remains.
The series has no traditional host and the voice of Willy Wonka is an AI recreation of Gene Wilder's performance from the 1971 film, created with the consent of his estate. Additionally, American TV hosts Nick Cannon, Howie Mandel, Wayne Brady each appear as guest hosts for TV themed challenges in "WonkaVision 2.0". They appear virtually.
Contestants The 12 pairs were revealed on September 22, 2026.
ContestantsAgePartnerRelationship Status Gabrielle Wright 22 Sasha Best Friends Taylor Schilling 23 Bryce Dating Garrison Wilson 30 Shawn Son/Mother rowspan="2" Ziad Mansour 32 Austin Roommates Bryce Lee 22 Taylor Dating rowspan="2" Austin Keil 29 Ziad Roommates Jackson Jobes 25 Ray Grandson/Grandparent rowspan="2" Tatum Filegar 27 Kellye Daughter/Mother Everett Toy 36 James Brothers rowspan="6" Ava Ganz 25 Jeff Daughter/Father Sasha Brendon 24 Gabrielle Best Friends Jeffrey "Jeff" Ganz 69 Ava Daughter/Father Kellye Cash 61 Tatum Daughter/Mother Hunter Church 31 Moon Brothers Kayla Simone 34 Bill Father/Daughter rowspan="3" Shawn Johnson 64 Garrison Son/Mother Ray Jobes 79 Jackson Grandson/Grandparent Bill 63 Kayla Father/Daughter rowspan="3" Marcy Winchester 63 Joanne Best Friends Joanne Ogden Carney 60 Marcy James Toy 38 Everett Brothers rowspan="2" Nick Spinelli 37 JasonCoworkers Jason Jani 49 Nick rowspan="2" Moon Lander 29 Hunter Brothers Other Appearances Oompa-Loompa performers include Rusty Goffe, Ben Goffe, Mitchell Marion, Tiffany Sarich, Beccy Benjamin, Ash Hodgkinson, Dane Noonan, Daniel Stone, and Alivia McCarthy. Peter Ostrum (the original Charlie Bucket), David Chang, Sean Evans, Nick Cannon, Howie Mandel, Wayne Brady and Zach King also made cameo appearances.
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Episodes
Production The series was produced by Eureka Productions, a Fremantle company, for Netflix. It was made in collaboration with the Roald Dahl Story Company and the Gene Wilder Estate. Executive producers are Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Rikkie Proost, David Tibballs, Alison Holloway, and Emer Harkin.
Filming took place at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast in Australia. Additional filming took place for exterior factory scenes at the White Bay Power Station in Sydney. The production built an set across three studios that includes a chocolate river. It was reported as the largest set ever constructed in Australia for a television production of this kind. The project received support from Australian location incentives and Screen Queensland.
Rusty Goffe, who appeared as an Oompa-Loompa in the 1971 film, returns for the series in his final acting role. Goffe stated, "I started on Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and now Wonka's The Golden Ticket is my swan song. I've just ended my career on Willy Wonka. Isn't that wonderful?". He is joined by a new group of performers that includes his son Ben Goffe.
Release Netflix announced the series on June 30, 2026, releasing a teaser the same day. A full trailer followed in August. The first seven episodes of the season premiered on September 23, 2026, and the remaining two episodes, comprising the season finale, were released on September 30, 2026.
Reception Early critical response was mixed to negative. Reviewers generally praised the scale and detail of the factory sets while criticizing the use of an AI recreation of Gene Wilder's voice and describing the challenges as formulaic. Several comparisons were made to earlier Netflix competition series such as Squid Game: The Challenge.
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