An AI-recreated "Val Kilmer" will appear in film As Deep As The Grave

Director and screenwriter Coerte Voorhees says in a press statement that Kilmer “immediately identified with the historical southwestern spiritual character of Father Fintan” when he joined the project. “It was very unfortunate that his health at the time prevented him from playing this role which spoke to him spiritually and culturally. We are honored to collaborate with his daughter Mercedes, who brings her own filmmaking experience, to bring this character to life in the way that we had all originally imagined it.” In a separate interview with Variety, Voorhees says that Kilmer’s son, Jack, is also on board with the endeavor. “He really thought it was important story that he wanted his name on,” Voorhees says of the actor. “It was that support that gave me the confidence to say, okay let’s do this. Despite the fact some people might call it controversial, this is what Val wanted.” 

We suppose we have to take their word for it. Per Variety, As Deep As The Grave will use photos and footage from Kilmer’s younger life as well as his later years to depict the character over a period of time. The movie will also use Kilmer’s voice, which was damaged by a tracheotomy in the later years of his life. Whether the creation actually passes for Kilmer remains to be seen; a first photo of it is above. For comparison, Seth MacFarlane’s Ted recently employed an AI-generated Bill Clinton that split his time between the White House and the uncanny valley. In any case, As Deep As The Grave—which wisely changed its title from Canyon Of The Dead—is hoping to be picked up for distribution in 2026.