LOS ANGELES: A year after his death, Val Kilmer is set to return to the screen in a new film through the use of artificial intelligence, in a development that underscores both the promise and controversy of rapidly advancing technology in Hollywood.
Kilmer, who died in April 2025 at age 65, will appear in the independent drama As Deep as the Grave, despite having been unable to film his role before his death due to illness.
The film’s producers said Kilmer had originally signed on to play Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist, but deteriorating health prevented him from participating. With the approval of his estate and family, filmmakers used generative AI trained on archival footage and recordings to recreate his likeness and voice.
Mercedes Kilmer, the actor’s daughter, said the decision reflects her father’s outlook on innovation. “He always looked at emerging technologies with optimism,” she said, calling the project a way to honor his role in a story he cared about.
Director Coerte Voorhees, who wrote the role specifically for Kilmer, said the actor had been eager to participate. “He was the actor I wanted,” Voorhees said, noting the part drew on Kilmer’s connection to the American Southwest.
The film, based on the real-life work of archaeologists in the American Southwest, will feature Kilmer’s AI-generated performance in a significant portion of the story.
The project arrives as the entertainment industry grapples with ethical questions around digital likeness rights, even as filmmakers increasingly turn to AI to extend performances beyond an actor’s lifetime.