Val Kilmer’s likeness will appear in new film using generative AI, following actor’s death a year ago

by

As a huge Val Kilmer fan, I was surprised to hear he’s going to be in a new movie! It’s been almost a year since he passed away in April 2025, and I initially assumed it would be footage they had already shot. But apparently, this isn’t the case – it’s not a performance filmed before he died. It’s really interesting and I’m definitely curious to see how they’re making it happen.

Val Kilmer will appear in the film As Deep as the Grave thanks to AI technology. The filmmakers are using photos of a younger Kilmer—many supplied by his family—along with footage from his later work and a recreation of his voice.

Variety shared a first-look image and reported the news, along with a statement from the film’s director, Coerte Voorhees, and his brother, producer John Voorhees, explaining why they made this choice.

Val Kilmer was originally cast as Father Fintan in 2020, but his health prevented him from filming. The filmmakers were able to include him in the movie using artificial intelligence, and this was done with the full support of his estate and daughter, Mercedes. His son, Jack, is also said to approve of this approach.

The film As Deep as the Grave, featuring Abigail Lawrie, Tom Felton, Wes Studi, and Abigail Breslin, is based on the real-life story of archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris and their work uncovering the history of the Navajo people.

Want to see this content?

This page includes content from Twitter. We need your permission to display it because Twitter uses cookies and similar technologies. By selecting ‘Accept and continue,’ you’ll allow Twitter to load and function as intended.

This independent film faced major delays due to the COVID pandemic, stretching production to six years. Initially, scenes featuring the character Father Fintan were removed to save money and time, but the filmmakers later realized his role was essential and restored them.

Coerte explained to Variety that they realized something crucial was missing. Usually, they’d simply replace an actor, but he prefers to work with the existing cast, especially since the performances in the film are excellent. Unfortunately, reshoots aren’t an option.

Our limited budget meant we couldn’t rely on traditional big-studio methods. We had to get creative and find new solutions, and thankfully, the technology now exists to make it possible.

Want to see this content?

This page uses a security feature called Google reCAPTCHA. Before it loads, we need your permission because it might use cookies. If you choose ‘Accept and continue’, you’ll allow reCAPTCHA to work and help keep the site secure.

In a statement about her father, Mercedes Kilmer shared that he always embraced new technologies as ways to enhance filmmaking. She explained that this same hopeful approach is being carried through in his final film, where he played a key role.

Val’s final big screen role was in Top Gun: Maverick.

Artificial intelligence is a hot-button issue in Hollywood, and the recent writers’ and actors’ strikes touched on it. The creation of Tilly Norwood, a completely AI-generated ‘actor’ by an AI studio, has caused a strong negative reaction.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a global TV production company. He has a Bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a journalism diploma.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-03-18 20:04