HOLLYWOOD
It finally happened: A dead actor is in a new movie, using AI
Val Kilmer will appear posthumously in the upcoming film As Deep As The Grave through generative AI.
The production company, First Line Films, says it is the first film performance of its kind.
Kilmer was cast in the role five years ago, but illness stopped him from filming on set.
He will play Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist.
The filmmakers said they worked closely with Kilmer’s estate and his daughter, Mercedes, and that he felt a strong personal connection to the character.
The film, directed by Coerte Voorhees, follows two archaeologists, played by Abigail Lawrie and Tom Felton, during an excavation in Arizona’s Canyon de Chelly.
It also explores the lives of the Navajo people. The studio has not shared which AI tools were used.
AI had already played a role in Kilmer’s work before.
In 2021, he used AI voice technology after his voice was damaged by throat cancer treatment.
In brief:
Kilmer’s new film role was completed with generative AI and support from his estate.
The project arrives while AI use in entertainment remains under close scrutiny.
Similar debates are also growing across music and other creative industries.
Digital déjà vu
That technology was later used in Top Gun: Maverick. For this film, the production is using Kilmer’s voice from after his tracheostomy.
The film is in post-production and is expected later this year.
Its release comes as the film and music industries continue to debate how AI should be used, with unions in the UK and US pushing for stronger protections around digital likeness and creative rights.
I’d be SO happy if we can get an AI version of Andre Baugher from Brooklyn 99 for one last Halloween Heist 🥹- MG