Peter Ostrum reprises Charlie Buckett role for Netflix game show

Peter Ostrum, the actor who played Charlie Buckett in the 1971 film ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’, has made a rare return for the Netflix reality competition series ‘Wonka’s The Golden Ticket’.

In a brief cameo during the opening episode, the 68-year-old actor appears in a montage of contestants discovering golden tickets. Ostrum, who left acting for a career in veterinary medicine after his single film role, is seen opening a chocolate bar and quipping, “Not this time, Wonka.”

Showrunner Emer Harkin described the appearance as “seismic,” noting the significance of receiving a blessing from the original Charlie Buckett. The new series features 12 pairs of contestants competing in candy-themed challenges within a Wonka-inspired factory, with the winner receiving a six-figure annuity for 30 years.