Val Kilmer to Appear Posthumously in New Film Through Generative AI

Val Kilmer never got to set foot on the set of "As Deep as the Grave." His health wouldn't allow it. Now, nearly a year after his death, the Hollywood icon will appear in the film anyway—rendered entirely by artificial intelligence (AI).

First Line Films, an independent production company based in New Mexico, announced Wednesday that it will use state-of-the-art generative AI technology to recreate Kilmer's performance in the film, casting him posthumously in the role of Father Fintan, a Catholic priest with deep ties to Native American spirituality.

The decision was made in close collaboration with Kilmer's estate and his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, who gave her blessing and will be compensated for her father's digital likeness.

The move arrives at a moment for AI in Hollywood where the technology has stirred fierce debate over creative ethics, performers' rights, and the future of the craft itself.

Kilmer, a Los Angeles-born, Juilliard-trained actor whose career spanned four decades, died last April at age 65 from pneumonia. He had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and underwent two tracheotomies that ultimately robbed him of his natural voice.

In his final screen appearance—the 2022 blockbuster "Top Gun: Maverick"—his voice was digitally reconstructed using AI software, a process Kilmer had himself pursued after losing the ability to speak naturally.

He had originally been cast in "As Deep as the Grave" years before his passing, drawn to the project by what producers described as a profound personal connection. Kilmer, who identified as part Native American, saw something of himself in Father Fintan—a character woven into the spiritual and cultural fabric of the American Southwest that Kilmer had long loved.

"He always looked at emerging technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling," Mercedes Kilmer said in a statement. "This spirit is something that we are all honoring within this specific film, of which he was an integral part."

The film, written and directed by Coerte Voorhees, follows the true story of southwestern archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris—played by "Tin Star" actress Abigail Lawrie and "Harry Potter" alumnus Tom Felton—as they excavate Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, uncovering the history and lived experiences of the Navajo people. The cast also includes Wes Studi and Abigail Breslin. Formerly titled "Canyon of the Dead," the film was shot several years ago but has been held up in postproduction. Producers are now seeking distribution with hopes of a 2026 release.

Voorhees and producer John Voorhees said in an email that SAG-AFTRA guidelines were followed throughout the process. "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. SAG-AFTRA's rules require consent from performers—or, in cases of death, from an authorized representative or the union—before a digital replica can be used.

Separately, the recent debut of Tilly Norwood—a fully AI-generated "actor" launched by the company Xicoia—drew condemnation from SAG-AFTRA, which called it a devaluation of human artistry.

The Kilmer project, its producers insist, is something different.

"It was very unfortunate that his health at the time prevented him from playing this role which spoke to him spiritually and culturally," Coerte Voorhees said. "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."