Val Kilmer Returns to the Screen with AI-Powered Performance in “As Deep as the Grave”

A year after his death, Val Kilmer is set to appear in a new independent film, As Deep as the Grave, utilizing generative AI to recreate his likeness, and performance. This marks one of the most significant applications of artificial intelligence in modern filmmaking.

Kilmer’s Posthumous Role and the Film’s Background

First Line Films announced on Wednesday that Kilmer, who passed away last April at the age of 65 from pneumonia , has posthumously joined the cast of As Deep as the Grave, previously titled Canyon of the Dead. The producers revealed that Kilmer had initially committed to the project but was unable to participate due to his declining health.

The actor’s estate has granted permission for the digital replication and will receive compensation for its leverage. Mercedes Kilmer, Val Kilmer’s daughter, expressed that the role resonated with her father, stating, “He always looked at emerging technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling.” She added, “This spirit is something that we are all honoring within this specific film, of which he was an integral part.”

Kilmer’s History with AI and Voice Recreation

Val Kilmer’s journey with AI began in 2014, following his diagnosis of throat cancer and subsequent tracheotomies, which resulted in the loss of his natural speaking voice. He then turned to AI software to digitally recreate his voice. This technology was notably used in his final screen appearance, 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, where his voice was digitally altered.

Ethical Considerations and Industry Response

The increasing use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking has sparked considerable debate within Hollywood. The company Xicoia’s launch of the AI-generated persona “Tilly Norwood” and subsequent music video have further fueled this discussion. SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, has condemned Xicoia’s “AI actor” but has established regulations regarding other applications of the technology. These regulations require consent from performers for the use of digital replicas, and stipulate that consent obtained before death must be authorized by a representative or the union.

Writer-director Coerte Voorhees and producer John Voorhees stated in an email that they followed SAG guidelines. “We believe we are serving as a demonstrator for how to do it ethically and correctly, especially in the case of working with a deceased actor’s estate and family,” they said.

About “As Deep as the Grave”

As Deep as the Grave, based on a true story, centers on the archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris and their Arizona excavations that uncovered Indigenous history. Kilmer’s AI-rendered portrayal will be of Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Indigenous spiritualist. The film also stars Abigail Lawrie, Tom Felton, Wes Studi, and Abigail Breslin. Kilmer, who claimed Cherokee ancestry, was drawn to the project five years ago. Producers are currently seeking distribution, with hopes for a release later this year.

Voorhees commented, “It was extremely unfortunate that his health at the time prevented him from playing this role which spoke to him spiritually and culturally. We are honored to collaborate with his daughter Mercedes, who brings her own filmmaking experience, to bring this character to life in the way that we had all originally imagined it.”