Val Kilmer AI film sparks fierce debate over ethics as filmmakers defend posthumous performance

AI-Rendered Val Kilmer Debuts in Controversial Film Trailer

Filmmakers behind the indie drama As Deep as the Grave unveiled a trailer at CinemaCon in Las Vegas that features an AI-generated performance by Val Kilmer, who died last year at age 65 from pneumonia following a battle with throat cancer1

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. The digital likeness portrays Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist, appearing on screen for one hour and 17 minutes in what marks the first time an actor's likeness and voice will be completely AI-generated in a feature film2

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. "Don't fear the dead and don't fear me," the AI deepfake Kilmer proclaims in the trailer—a line that immediately sparked controversy across social media3

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The historical drama follows archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris, whose 1920s fieldwork in New Mexico explored the history of the Navajo people and Ancestral Puebloans1

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. Kilmer had signed on years ago, but poor health prevented him from appearing on set before his death1

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. Rather than recasting, writer-director Coerte Voorhees and producer John Voorhees chose to use generative AI to complete the posthumous performance, employing archival footage, photos, and voice recordings to craft the digital likeness1

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Filmmakers Defend Ethical Use of AI Technology

The Voorhees brothers have vigorously defended their approach, emphasizing they followed all guidelines on AI use established by the SAG-AFTRA actors union1

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. John Voorhees distilled these protections into three principles: "consent, compensation and collaboration"2

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. Kilmer's estate, including his daughter Mercedes and son Jack, granted permission for the digital replication, is being compensated, and provided archival materials to support the process2

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"We are 100% confident it's really the right move with this specific film," Coerte Voorhees told Reuters, adding that audiences who see the completed movie won't be able to distinguish the AI performance from human acting1

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. The brothers positioned their work as demonstrating an ethical path forward for AI in filmmaking at a time when many actors worry about unauthorized uses of their images1

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. They emphasized that Kilmer's family "collaborated artistically in every possible way" throughout the production1

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Coerte Voorhees stopped short of calling it a Val Kilmer performance, stating instead that "Val Kilmer influenced this performance"2

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. The filmmakers compared the AI-rendered portrayal to any actor depicting a historical figure, similar to how Kilmer once portrayed Jim Morrison in "The Doors"2

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. They noted that Kilmer had already explored AI-assisted technology during his lifetime, working with a company to digitally recreate his voice after losing his natural speaking ability following two tracheotomies, and his voice was digitally altered for his final screen appearance in "Top Gun: Maverick"2

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Outrage Erupts Over Digital Necromancy Concerns

Despite the filmmakers' assurances about consent and ethics, the trailer drew immediate and fierce criticism on social media. Commenters called it "terrifying," "disgusting," and "the MOST disgusting thing I've ever seen"1

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. "It's called REST IN PEACE for a reason," one user wrote1

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. Another noted, "Very fitting that this trailer includes a scene where a corpse is unceremoniously yanked out of the ground"4

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Jackson Rathbone, known for the "Twilight" films, posted an expletive-laden response calling the project disgusting and questioning SAG-AFTRA's role: "Hey SAG-AFTRA, about that strike we had... You owe us an explanation"5

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. The reference pointed to the 2023 strike when actors union members walked out for 118 days to secure AI protections5

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. Rathbone also singled out Mercedes Kilmer, asking whether she was "capitalizing on your father's death for your own financial gain"5

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Analyst JP Gownder labeled the project "more grotesque digital necromancy," reflecting broader concerns about the precedent As Deep as the Grave could set for the film industry5

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. While CGI has been used to resurrect deceased actors before—Peter Cushing in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" and Paul Walker in "Furious 7"—generative AI represents a significant escalation, completely removing living actors from the process and lowering barriers to entry compared to traditional CGI4

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What This Means for Hollywood's Future

The controversy surrounding AI in filmmaking extends beyond one posthumous role. Hollywood actors have been vocal about an industry seemingly determined to replace them with AI, and the public appears largely supportive of their concerns5

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. Last year, a talent studio faced near-universal backlash after announcing the creation of an AI-generated "actress"5

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. Even everyday users can now generate videos of deceased actors using tools like OpenAI's text-to-video technology5

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Mercedes Kilmer defended the decision in a statement to Variety, noting her father "always looked at emerging technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling" and that the family is "honoring within this specific film, of which he was an integral part"5

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. Yet the resoundingly negative reaction suggests the filmmakers face an uphill battle convincing audiences that this use of AI represents acceptable practice rather than exploitation of deceased actors5

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The film, which began shooting in New Mexico in fall 2020 amid pandemic delays, is scheduled for release sometime this year2

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. As the debate intensifies, viewers will need to decide whether consent from Kilmer's estate sufficiently addresses the ethical questions raised by bringing deceased actors back through AI—and whether this technology serves storytelling or simply capitalizes on nostalgia and name recognition at the expense of living performers.