Five years after his death, Val Kilmer will appear in a "significant part" of the film "As Deep as the Grave"—not through archival footage, but via state-of-the-art AI generation approved by his estate and family.
According to Variety, Kilmer was cast as Father Fintan in 2020 but was too sick from throat cancer to ever make it to set. Writer-director Coerte Voorhees realized his vision using generative AI with full cooperation from Kilmer's daughter Mercedes and son Jack.
"He was the actor I wanted to play this role," Voorhees told Variety. "It was very much designed around him. He was just going through a really, really tough time medically, and he couldn't do it."
More Than Digital Resurrection
The film uses both younger images of Kilmer and footage from his final years to show the character—a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist—at various life stages. The audio utilizes Kilmer's voice, including its damaged quality from a tracheal procedure, which mirrors the historical character's tuberculosis.
"The character in the film also suffers from tuberculosis," said producer John Voorhees. "This historical character mirrored Val's actual condition when he was suffering from throat cancer... thus creating a kind of bridge."
Kilmer's family kept saying "how important they thought the movie was and that Val really wanted to be a part of this," Coerte Voorhees explained. "Despite the fact some people might call it controversial, this is what Val wanted."
The Ethics Question
The decision will likely draw criticism. AI in entertainment remains contentious, with creators worried about job losses and actors concerned about unauthorized use of their likenesses. The filmmakers acknowledge the debate but argue "As Deep as the Grave" demonstrates ethical AI use.
The production followed SAG guidelines and compensated Kilmer's estate for his appearance. In a statement, Mercedes Kilmer said her father was "a deeply spiritual man" who resonated with this "story of discovery and enlightenment" set in the Southwest where he made his New Mexico home.
"He always looked at emerging technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling," she said. "This spirit is something that we are all honoring within this specific film, of which he was an integral part."
During his lifetime, Kilmer partnered with Sonantic to create an AI-powered speaking voice when he reprised his role as Iceman in 2022's "Top Gun: Maverick." At the time, he called the technology an "incredibly special gift" that let him narrate his story "in a voice that feels authentic and familiar."
