Val Kilmer’s AI Resurrection in ‘As Deep as the Grave’ Marks a Novel Era for Posthumous Performances
A year after his death from pneumonia in April 2025, Val Kilmer will posthumously appear in the action-adventure film As Deep as the Grave, thanks to generative artificial intelligence. First Line Films, the production company behind the project, states this is the first-ever performance enabled by this technology [Reuters].
From Illness to Innovation
Kilmer, known for iconic roles in Top Gun, Tombstone, and Batman Forever, was originally cast in As Deep as the Grave (previously titled Canyon of the Dead) five years prior to his passing [NBC News]. He was slated to play Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist. However, his cancer diagnosis in 2014 and subsequent vocal difficulties threatened his involvement. Rather than recast the role, director Coerte Voorhees opted to utilize state-of-the-art generative AI to digitally create Kilmer’s performance [NBC News].
A Spiritual Connection
Kilmer, who previously claimed Cherokee ancestry and was a supporter of Native American rights, felt a strong connection to the character of Father Fintan. According to a press release from First Line Films, he “immediately identified with the historical southwestern spiritual character of Father Fintan, and understood the importance of elevating awareness of Ann Morris’s incredible story as the first female archaeologist in North America” [NBC News].
The Story Behind the Excavation
As Deep as the Grave is based on the true story of Ann and Earl Morris, early 20th-century archaeologists who excavated and documented evidence of the Ancestral Puebloans in the American Southwest. The film also stars Abigail Lawrie, Tom Felton, and Abigail Breslin [NBC News].
Building on Previous AI Voice Work
This isn’t Kilmer’s first foray into AI-assisted performance. In 2021, he collaborated with the AI voice platform Sonantic to recreate his voice, which had been permanently altered by a tracheostomy following his cancer treatment. This AI-generated voice was used in Top Gun: Maverick, allowing him to reprise his role as Iceman [The New York Times]. As Deep as the Grave utilizes Kilmer’s voice as it sounded *after* his tracheostomy [NBC News].
The Broader AI Debate in Entertainment
Kilmer’s posthumous performance arrives amidst a growing debate surrounding the apply of AI in the entertainment industry. The launch of the first fully AI-generated actor, Tilly Norwood, has raised concerns about the potential impact on actors’ roles [Reuters]. SAG-AFTRA, the US actors’ union, recently concluded negotiations with major studios without reaching a new agreement, and Equity, the UK actors’ union, voted to refuse digital scanning on set in an effort to secure AI protections [Reuters].
As Deep as the Grave is currently in post-production and is expected to be released later in 2026.