In a striking development at the intersection of technology and cinema, a generative AI version of Val Kilmer will co-star in the upcoming independent film As Deep as the Grave, despite the actor never having filmed a scene for it before his death in April 2025. The project, announced in March 2026, represents one of the most ambitious posthumous uses of AI in Hollywood to date. (apnews.com)
Kilmer had originally been cast as Father Fintan—a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist—in the film, which is based on the true story of archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris. However, his declining health due to throat cancer prevented him from participating in production. (au.variety.com)
The filmmakers, led by writer-director Coerte Voorhees, worked closely with Kilmer’s estate and his children, Mercedes and Jack, to ethically recreate his likeness and voice using state-of-the-art generative AI. The estate granted permission, is being compensated, and provided archival materials to support the process. (apnews.com)
Voorhees emphasized that the role was designed around Kilmer’s cultural and spiritual connection to the character, and that the family’s support was pivotal. “This is what Val wanted,” he said, acknowledging the controversy but underscoring the actor’s own embrace of emerging technologies. (au.variety.com)
The AI-generated Kilmer will appear in a significant portion of the film, with visuals drawn from images spanning his life and audio reconstructed from archival recordings. The filmmakers liken the approach to casting an actor to portray a historical figure, rather than claiming it as a literal Kilmer performance. (au.variety.com)
The trailer debuted at CinemaCon in Las Vegas in April 2026, offering the first glimpse of the AI-rendered Kilmer delivering a haunting line: “Don’t fear the dead and don’t fear me.” The filmmakers confirmed that Kilmer appears on screen for approximately one hour and 17 minutes, though the film’s total runtime remains undisclosed. (apnews.com)
This project arrives amid growing debate over AI’s role in entertainment. The Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) requires consent for digital replicas, which the filmmakers affirm they have secured. (apnews.com)
Kilmer had previously embraced AI during his lifetime—most notably partnering with Sonantic to recreate his voice for Top Gun: Maverick after losing his natural speaking ability due to throat cancer. (au.variety.com)
As Deep as the Grave is expected to release later in 2026, offering a provocative case study in how AI can extend an actor’s presence beyond their lifetime—raising both creative possibilities and ethical questions.