AI Technology Facilitates Val Kilmer’s Posthumous Performance in 'Deep as the Grave'

The late actor Val Kilmer is set to appear digitally in the independent drama 'Deep as the Grave,' a project moving forward with the full consent of his family and estate. Kilmer, who passed away in April 2025 at the age of 65 due to pneumonia following a long battle with throat cancer, was originally cast as Father Fintan. This specific role was deeply meaningful to him as it reflected his own Native American ancestry, though his declining health ultimately prevented him from participating in the initial filming stages.

Director Koert Voorhees, who specifically crafted the role for Kilmer, opted to utilize advanced artificial intelligence to bring his creative vision to life. This digital recreation was achieved using a combination of personal images provided by the actor's family and a synthesized voice. The film, which was previously titled 'Canyon of the Dead,' draws inspiration from the true accounts of 1920s archaeologists working alongside the Navajo tribe in Arizona’s Canyon de Chelly. The production features a notable ensemble cast, including Tom Felton, Wes Studi, Abigail Lawrie, and Abigail Breslin.

The character of Father Fintan—a Catholic priest and indigenous spiritual healer—held profound personal significance for Kilmer, echoing his heritage and his deep-seated affection for the American Southwest. Mercedes Kilmer, the actor's daughter, remarked that her father was always an early adopter and enthusiast of innovative storytelling technologies, a spirit the filmmakers aimed to honor. Producers, including the director’s brother John Voorhees, noted that the character’s struggle with tuberculosis mirrors Kilmer’s own medical history, particularly the two tracheotomies he underwent following his 2014 throat cancer diagnosis.

While the use of AI to recreate deceased performers remains a contentious topic within Hollywood, the production team emphasizes that they strictly adhered to SAG-AFTRA union guidelines and ensured fair compensation for Kilmer’s heirs. The independent project faced significant hurdles, including a five-year delay exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Based in New Mexico, Koert Voorhees’ team employed cutting-edge generative AI to reconstruct Kilmer’s performance, drawing from both archival footage of his youth and images from his later years. According to First Line Films, this marks a historic milestone as the first posthumous acting performance entirely facilitated by generative AI.

Kilmer had previously explored the potential of AI when his voice was digitally reconstructed for his cameo in 'Top Gun: Maverick.' As the film industry grapples with the ethical and legal ramifications of digital likeness rights, 'Deep as the Grave' is being presented as a model for how technology can be used respectfully in collaboration with an artist's estate. The film is slated for release later this year, offering audiences a first look at this pioneering approach to preserving a legendary actor's cinematic legacy.