Val Kilmer's AI-generated performance debuts in 'As Deep as the Grave' trailer at CinemaCon

AI-rendered Val Kilmer debuts in 'As Deep as the Grave' trailer

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The filmmakers behind "As Deep as the Grave," the indie film that is using an artificial intelligence-rendered version of Val Kilmer in a prominent role, debuted a first look at the recreated actor Wednesday at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. "Don't fear the dead and don't fear me," Kilmer's character, Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist, says at the end of the trailer. The actor died last year at 65, of pneumonia. The use of generative AI to recreate Kilmer for the historical drama based on archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris became a hot button topic when the filmmakers announced it last month. The trailer shows Kilmer's character at various ages. Writer-director Coerte Voorhees, along with his brother John, spoke on a panel Wednesday about the controversial decision to use technology to create a performance from a deceased actor and explained why they feel they've done it ethically by working with Kilmer's children and the actors union. Coerte Voorhees stopped short of calling it a Val Kilmer performance, however. "Val Kilmer influenced this performance," Coerte Voorhees said. Producer John Voorhees said the use of AI actors based on real people is risky territory for anyone to venture into but emphasized that they followed guidelines from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union that he boiled down to "consent, compensation and collaboration." Kilmer's estate, including his daughter Mercedes, gave permission for his digital replication, is being compensated for it and provided archival footage to help the process. They also compared Kilmer's AI-rendered performance to any actor portraying a historical figure on screen, as Kilmer once did with Jim Morrison in "The Doors." Kilmer also utilized AI while he was alive. When he lost his natural speaking voice following a throat cancer diagnosis and two tracheotomies, he turned to an AI software company to digitally recreate his voice. Kilmer's voice was also digitally altered to help his final screen performance in "Top Gun: Maverick." Kilmer had signed on to "As Deep as the Grave" years ago; Much of the film was structured around his character, they said. When Kilmer had to pull out at the last minute due to health issues they decided to proceed shooting without the character instead of recasting the role. The production had numerous stops and starts as one of the first to begin shooting in New Mexico in the fall of 2020 amid the pandemic. They realized later that the story really did need Father Fintan, and decided to broach the topic with Kilmer's children, Mercedes and Jack. "We were so glad they were so excited and so supportive of the idea," Coerte Voorhees said. "We didn't want to do it unless everybody thought this was going to work properly." He said that Kilmer is on screen in the movie for one hour and 17 minutes; The final runtime was not revealed but he said it's long. The filmmakers plan to release it sometime this year.

Val Kilmer's AI-Generated Performance in 'As Deep as the Grave' Debuts With Trailer

Writer-director Coerte Voorhees' feature debuted the footage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Abigail Lawrie, Tom Felton and Abigail Breslin round out the cast for the indie film. As Deep as the Grave centers on real-life archaeologists Ann (Lawrie) and Earl Morris (Felton), who unearthed remains of the Ancestral Puebloans in the 1920s. Kilmer's likeness can be seen portraying Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist. "Don't fear the dead, and don't fear me," his likeness says in the trailer. The Top Gun and Batman Forever actor, who died in April 2025 at age 65 after a long battle with throat cancer, had been cast in the film before he passed but was not well enough to shoot his scenes. As noted in a release from production company First Line Films, Voorhees opted to digitally create Kilmer's performance with the support of the late star's daughter, Mercedes Kilmer. "When Val came onboard the project five years ago, he immediately identified with the historical southwestern spiritual character of Father Fintan, and understood the importance of elevating awareness of Ann Morris' incredible story as the first female archaeologist in North America," Voorhees said in a previous statement. "It was very unfortunate that his health at the time prevented him from playing this role which spoke to him spiritually and culturally." Mercedes Kilmer added in a statement about her father: "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." The use of AI in Hollywood has become a hotly debated topic as recent legislation has sought to protect actors' posthumous digital likenesses. The news of AI-generated actor Tilly Norwood led to criticism from members of the industry, including SAG-AFTRA.