Deceased Val Kilmer to Be “Resurrected” by AI for New Drama

Hollywood actor Val Kilmer, who passed away last year at the age of 65, will posthumously star in the film As Deep As the Grave. The filmmakers plan to use artificial intelligence technology to bring the screen legend back to the set.

Kilmer, who had been battling throat cancer and ultimately died from the disease, was cast in the role before his death. He was set to play Father Fintan, a character who combines Native American spiritual practices with the Catholic priesthood. As director Koerte Voorhees told Variety in an interview, the role was written specifically for Kilmer, who was known for his support of Native Americans and claimed to have Cherokee ancestry.

“This is who I wanted for the role,” Voorhees explained. “It would have reflected his heritage and his love of the Southwest.” However, due to his serious illness, the actor was unable to be physically present on set.

Now, the director, in collaboration with Kilmer’s heirs—including his daughter Mercedes and son Jack—intends to recreate the actor’s image using generative AI. According to the director, the actor’s family emphasizes that Val was very eager to be part of this project and considered the story important. “Despite the fact that some might call this controversial, this is what Val wanted,” Voorhees added.

The plot of As Deep As the Grave (working title Canyon of the Dead) is based on the true story of archaeologists working with the Navajo people in the 1920s. The digital Kilmer will be joined on screen by Tom Felton (Harry Potter), Abigail Lawrie, and Oscar winner Wes Studi. The AI-generated version of the actor will appear in a “significant” portion of the film’s runtime; to achieve this, the creators plan to use photographs of Kilmer taken throughout his life.