Val Kilmer Returns to the Big Screen via Generative AI in ‘As Deep as the Grave’
In a groundbreaking blend of cinema and technology, the late Val Kilmer is set to appear in the upcoming historical action-adventure film As Deep as the Grave. While Kilmer passed away on April 1, 2025, at the age of 65, his presence is realized through state-of-the-art generative AI, allowing him to portray a pivotal role he was cast for years before his death.
The Resurrection of an Icon: Using AI to Honor a Vision
Val Kilmer was cast as Father Fintan—a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist—five years before his passing. According to writer and director Coerte Voorhees, the role was specifically designed around Kilmer, drawing on the actor’s own Native American heritage and his deep connection to the American Southwest.
Despite being cast, Kilmer’s battle with throat cancer left him too ill to ever step onto the set. Principal photography began in November 2020, but Kilmer was unable to participate due to his medical condition. To fulfill the original vision for the character, Voorhees used generative AI to create Kilmer’s likeness for the film. This decision was made with the full cooperation and support of Kilmer’s estate, including his daughter Mercedes and his son Jack, who believed the story was one Kilmer truly wanted his name attached to.
A True Story of Discovery in the Southwest
As Deep as the Grave (which was previously titled Canyon of the Dead and Canyon Del Muerto) is more than a technical marvel. it is a historical chronicle. The film follows the true story of Ann Axtell Morris (1900-1945), North America’s first female archaeologist.
Set in the 1920s, the narrative centers on Ann and her husband, Earl H. Morris, as they work with the Navajo people in Canyon de Chelly, Arizona. Their mission was to uncover the remnants of the Ancestral Puebloans, too known as the “Anasazi,” one of North America’s earliest civilizations.
The Ensemble Cast
The film features a robust cast bringing this historical expedition to life:
- Abigail Lawrie as Ann Axtell Morris
- Tom Felton as Earl H. Morris
- Val Kilmer (AI Likeness) as Father Fintan
- Abigail Breslin as Anne Morrow Lindbergh
- Finn Jones as Charles Lindbergh
- Tatanka Means as Seechi
- Wes Studi as Tsali
- Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Jean Charlot
- Ewen Bremner as Sylvanus G. Morley
- Hanako Footman as Elizabeth Bixler
Key Production Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Director/Writer | Coerte Voorhees |
| Production Companies | A Visionary Film, First Line Films, New Mexico LaVia is-the-way Productions, MC Films, The Vladar Company |
| Primary Location | Canyon de Chelly, Arizona |
| Core Theme | Archaeology and the history of the Navajo and Ancestral Puebloans |
The Future of AI in Cinema
The use of Kilmer’s likeness in As Deep as the Grave highlights a growing trend in the industry where generative AI is used to complete the work of actors who are no longer able to perform. While some view the practice as controversial, the involvement of the Kilmer family suggests a shift toward using these tools to honor an actor’s final wishes and artistic legacy.
For more details on the production, you can view the Wikipedia entry or read the exclusive coverage via Variety.