- Kilmer’s AI likeness was built from lifelong personal photos and archival footage, with his family granting full rights to First Line Films.
- Kilmer had previously embraced AI voice technology in 2021 via Sonantic, later used in Top Gun: Maverick to restore his cancer-damaged voice.
- The film reignites Hollywood’s ethical debate over posthumous digital likenesses, with California’s AB 1836 law now framing the legal boundaries.
The late actor Val Kilmer, known for his iconic roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever, and The Doors, will star in the independent film As Deep as the Grave despite having passed away in April 2025.
According to Variety, the actor will be fully recreated using cutting-edge generative artificial intelligence, making him the first prominent actor to be “cast” in a film production without having filmed a single scene. Kilmer’s family, including his children Mercedes and Jack, approved the use of his likeness and voice, granting the corresponding rights to production company First Line Films.
The film, directed by Coerte Voorhees, tells the true story of archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris, who in the 1920s excavated Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, to trace the history of Native American peoples. Kilmer was originally cast to play Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist, five years ago, but his battle with throat cancer prevented him from showing up on set.
Generative AI: The Future of Cinema and Digital Actors
The process of digitally recreating Kilmer used images of the actor taken throughout his life, many provided by his own family, combined with footage from his later years. According to NBC News, the AI-generated version will appear in a “significant portion” of the film, and the audio will use the actor’s voice, which had been permanently damaged after undergoing tracheotomy procedures due to his throat cancer.
This is not Kilmer’s first encounter with AI technology applied to his image. In 2021, the actor collaborated with the platform Sonantic to develop an artificial version of his voice, which was used in Top Gun: Maverick (2022) when he reprised his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. At the time, Kilmer said: “As human beings, the ability to communicate is at the core of our existence. The opportunity to tell my story with a voice that feels authentic and familiar is an incredibly special gift.”
Mercedes Kilmer, the actor’s daughter, issued a statement backing the project: “My father was a deeply spiritual man and this story of discovery and enlightenment in the American Southwest and his unique role in it really resonated with him […] He always looked at emerging technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling. This spirit is something that we are all honoring within this specific film, of which he was an integral part.”
Ethical Debate in Hollywood: AI, Image Rights, and the Future of Acting
The production has sparked an intense debate within the film industry. According to The Guardian, producers say they followed SAG-AFTRA guidelines and compensated Kilmer’s estate for his appearance. The actors’ union has held tense negotiations with major studios over the use of AI, considering it a key “sticking point” in labor discussions.
Director Coerte Voorhees defended the decision: “His family kept saying how important they thought the movie was and that Val really wanted to be a part of this […] He really thought it was important story that he wanted his name on … Despite the fact some people might call it controversial, this is what Val wanted.” In 2024, California passed AB 1836, a law that specifically protects digital likenesses as part of artists’ posthumous right of publicity.
The cast of As Deep as the Grave includes Tom Felton (Harry Potter), Abigail Breslin, Oscar winner Wes Studi, and Abigail Lawrie. The film, which spent three years in post-production due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is currently seeking distribution with hopes of a 2026 release.
This case sets a significant precedent for the entertainment industry, raising questions about the ethical boundaries of technology and the ownership of artists’ digital identities beyond death.
