Val Kilmer is to be “resurrected” with the help of AI in a film he was cast in before his death.
Val Kilmer, who died in April 2025, returns to the silver screen in a groundbreaking – and controversial – use of artificial intelligence. The late actor will appear in As Deep as the Grave, a film he originally starred in back in 2015 but was unable to shoot due to his failing health.
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A role written for Kilmer
Director Coerte Voorhees revealed that Kilmer had been his first and only choice for the role of Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Indigenous spiritual guide. The character was specifically designed with Kilmer in mind, but the actor’s battle with throat cancer prevented him from ever stepping in front of the camera.
“He was the actor I wanted to play this role,” Voorhees told Variety. “It was very much designed around him… He was going through a very tough time medically, and he couldn’t do it.”
Kilmer never shot a single scene – yet he will now appear in the film through an entirely AI-generated performance.
How the digital Kilmer was created
The production team used:
- archive photos from Kilmer’s youth,
- recordings from his later years,
- and advanced generative AI tools
to reconstruct his exterior. His family provided personal materials to help the digital recreation feel authentic.
The character’s battle with tuberculosis mirrors Kilmer’s own health challenges, which the filmmakers say creates a “bridge” between the actor’s real condition and the fictional role. His voice will also be AI-generated – a technique previously used with Kilmer’s approval in Top Gun: Maverick.
Family approval and Kilmer’s own views on technology
Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes, released a statement supporting the project. She described her father as a “deeply spiritual man” who believed in the creative potential of new technologies.
“He always looked at new technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling,” she said. “This spirit is something we all honor in this film, of which he was an integral part.”
Before his death, Kilmer had emotionally spoken about hearing his AI-restored voice in Top Gun: Maverick, calling it “an incredibly special gift.”
Public backlash and ethical debate
Despite the family’s blessing, the announcement has sparked intense reactions online. Critics argue that the digital revival of deceased actors crosses ethical boundaries, with some calling it “disturbing” or “exploitative.”
A viral post read, “You are free to create whatever you want, and we are free to avoid it like the plague. In the most rude way possible, no thanks.”
Another user wrote, “‘Val really wanted to be a part of this’ – well, he can’t. He’s dead… Getting a computer to revive his corpse for a paying audience is wrong.”
However, Voorhees insists that the project honors Kilmer’s wishes. “He really thought it was an important story that he wanted his name on,” he said. “That support gave me the confidence to say, okay, let’s do this.”
A new front for Hollywood
As Deep as the Grave is becoming one of the most high-profile examples of AI-assisted “resurrection” in film – a trend that continues to divide audiences, artists, and ethicists.
Whether the film will be seen as a respectful tribute or a disturbing step into “the eerie valley” remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Val Kilmer’s legacy continues to spark conversation, even after his passing.
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