9 Easter Eggs in “Wonka’s the Golden Ticket” You Probably Missed (Including a Rare Cameo from the 1971 Film!)

The Netflix competition show brings back some iconic characters from ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’

NEED TO KNOW

• Netflix’s new reality show, Wonka’s the Golden Ticket, revisits the beloved media franchise of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Throughout the competition, contestants will face numerous challenges inspired by the original 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
• Easter eggs for the game show include some incredibly rare cameos

Netflix’s newest reality show brings a handful of contestants into the world of Willy Wonka and his zany chocolate factory.

In Wonka’s the Golden Ticket, contestants vie for golden tickets to enter the chocolate factory — a recreation of the on-screen adaptation inspired by Roald Dahl’s children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Once contestants are granted a golden ticket, they’re allowed to bring one partner inside to compete alongside them through a series of challenges.

The Netflix show is an homage to the world previously only explored through various film adaptations. Gene Wilder heralded the first adaptation in 1971, playing the startling chocolatier Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Johnny Depp then offered a reimagined version of the sweets mogul in the Tim Burton-directed 2005 recreation, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

More recently, Timothée Chalamet donned the top hat and cane in a prequel story, Wonka, exploring the life of the eccentric businessman and magician in an entirely new tale.

Now Netflix returns to that world with this reality series, letting contestants step into the colorful (and sometimes frightening) chocolate factory to compete for “a lifetime supply of money.” The first seven episodes dropped on Sept. 23, with the final two dropping on the streaming service on Sept. 30.

While watching the contestants compete for this grand prize, there are a handful of nods to the films and stories that preceded it. Here are all of the easter eggs you may have missed.

01 of 09

A rare cameo from the original Charlie Bucket

Probably one of the biggest easter eggs comes during a montage of contestants finding golden tickets. Tucked away in those clips is Peter Ostrum — the man who portrayed the original Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film.

Though Ostrum was offered a three-film contract following the movie’s success, he declined and instead decided to leave Hollywood behind to pursue veterinary medicine.

His brief appearance in the reality show is a rare cameo for the former child actor.

02 of 09

The original Willy Wonka makes his return… kind of

Wilder was the original zany chocolatier, but he died in 2016 from complications with Alzheimer’s. However, in the new reality show, the “host” voice played over the loudspeakers as contestants work their way through the factory is a recreation of the late actor’s voice. Wilder’s estate worked with the AI company ElevenLabs to create the voice for the show.

“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,” his wife, Karen B. Wilder, said in a statement to Variety.

03 of 09

Sign on the dotted line

Just like in the original film, all the contestants must sign on the dotted line of the overly large contract with concerningly small print before entering the factory.

Just like how there were consequences for agreeing to the terms and conditions the first time around, the contestants’ signatures affect their gameplay as they progress through the challenges.

04 of 09

The factory floor pays homage to the original chocolate factory

Once contestants sign the intimidating contract, they’re ushered into the factory — and the wonderland is just as fantastical as the original film made it look. Though the chocolate river in Wonka’s the Golden Ticket isn’t consumable like it was in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, nearly everything else in that room is edible (just as the chocolatier intended).

05 of 09

The Wonkatania gets a new look

Another feature from the original film that got an upgrade is the boat used to traverse the infamous chocolate river. In the original 1971 film, Wonka and his crew of guests pile into the original boat, leading to a frightening confrontation with the chocolatier. This time, the contestants are spared from the tunnel of terror — and the Wonkatania is decked out with some upgraded specs.

06 of 09

An original Oompa Loompa reprises his role

In Wonka’s the Golden Ticket, the cast of Oompa Loompas is played by a variety of actors, straying from the original casting choice of only little people. But among the cast is Rusty Goffe, who appeared in the original 1971 film as part of Wonka’s workforce. Not only is Goffe reprising his role, but he also stars alongside his son, Ben, in the Netflix reality show.

07 of 09

Wonkavision gets an upgrade

While Wonkavision was once a tool to take large chocolate bars and teleport them into a television, it’s now the broadcaster of the contestants’ upcoming challenges. This upgraded version includes a game show hosted by Howie Mandel, Nick Cannon and Wayne Brady.

08 of 09

All of the challenges are inspired by the films

There are plenty of set pieces that call back to the beloved films, and the challenges contestants work through are no different. Players will go up against the outerwear-grabbing coat rack, stack Everlasting Gobstoppers, navigate a shrinking hallway and resist elimination from the golden goose egg.

Each challenge is inspired by different aspects of the franchise — including a finish line that requires contestants to lick the wallpaper. Time to find out if the snozberries taste like snozzberries!

09 of 09

Not even Wonka’s office is done halfway

Just like Wonka’s office in the 1971 film, contestants walk into the chocolatier’s office to see that every piece of furniture has been cut in half. Just as Charlie and his grandfather had to reckon with their morals before being invited to move into the estate, contestants will make game-changing decisions at the half-desk.

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