New film uses AI to recreate Val Kilmer with family approval

In short: Filmmakers behind As Deep as the Grave say they used AI to recreate Val Kilmer’s face and voice for a major role, with approval and materials from his family and estate.

What happened

Val Kilmer died in December 2025 after health problems linked to throat cancer. A new report says an upcoming independent film, As Deep as the Grave (once titled Canyon of the Dead), will still include Kilmer by using an AI-made version of him.

The film had originally cast Kilmer in 2025 to play Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist. Because of his health, he could not perform the part. The director, Coerte Voorhees, said Kilmer’s children, Mercedes and Jack, supported the idea and provided materials like photos, video, and older voice recordings.

The AI work uses those materials to build a digital version of Kilmer’s likeness and voice. Think of it like using a large scrapbook of images and recordings to create a moving, speaking stand-in. Producers also said the recreated voice reflects the changes caused by Kilmer’s illness, which they argue connects to the character’s own health in the story.

Why it matters

Using AI to recreate a deceased actor is a sensitive issue in Hollywood, especially around consent and who controls a person’s image after death. This case stands out because the filmmakers say the family and estate actively worked with them, rather than fighting the project or learning about it afterward. The film does not have a confirmed release date yet.

Source: NYTimes