Netflix is expanding its reality library with a sweet new addition. The streamer is moving forward with “The Golden Ticket,” an upcoming competition series that will be set in the world of Willy Wonka.
The series comes from Eureka Productions, which also produced “The Mole,” “Dating Around” and “TwentySomethings Austin.” Fittingly, contestants who find a golden ticket will have the chance to enter Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. But once the gates open, they’re not getting a tour. Instead, contestants will be asked to strategize and withstand a series of challenges unique to this wild environment The series promises to test contestants both mentally and physically and is being described in a press release as a “high-stakes social experiment.”
At the moment, it’s unclear how contestants will be able to obtain their golden tickets, though casting is now open. Both the series’ filming location and its premiere date will be announced at a later date.
“We are thrilled to bring the magic of The Chocolate Factory to life like never before,” Jeff Gaspin, vice president of Unscripted at Netflix, said in a Thursday statement. “This one-of-a-kind reality competition blends adventure, strategy and social dynamics, creating an experience that is as captivating as it is unpredictable. For the first time, a lucky few won’t just have to imagine the experience — they’ll get to step inside the factory and live it.”
This marks the first project related to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” that Netflix has announced since the streamer acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company in 2021. Since that acquisition, the streamer has released Wes Anderson’s “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” and Matthew Warchus’ “Matilda the Musical.”
It’s also a move that continues Netflix’s interest in the competition space. The streamer is already home to “Squid Game: The Challenge,” which mirrors the challenges and environment of its own IP, as well as “Ultimate Beastmaster,” “Physical 100,” “Pressure Cooker,” “The Trust,” “The Circle” and many more.
Netflix also aired the Wonka-inspired baking competition “Crazy Delicious” in 2020, though that show did not have the full branding “The Golden Ticket” does.
