Val Kilmer to ‘Resurrected’ with AI in New Film – As Deep As the Grave
Val Kilmer will soon appear on screen in a role he was initially unable to fulfill, thanks to the rapidly evolving capabilities of artificial intelligence. The actor, who after a battle with throat cancer, will star in the drama As Deep as the Grave, playing Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist.
Kilmer was originally cast in the role prior to his illness worsening, and director and writer Coerte Voorhees made it clear that the part was specifically envisioned for him. “He was the actor I wanted to play this role,” Voorhees told Variety. “It drew on his Native American heritage and his ties to and love of the Southwest.” The project stalled as Kilmer’s health declined, leaving Voorhees with a demanding decision.
Rather than recast the role, Voorhees, with the full support of Kilmer’s estate and his children, Mercedes and Jack, opted to utilize generative AI to bring Kilmer to the screen. This isn’t simply a digital recreation; Voorhees emphasized the intention to honor Kilmer’s vision for the character and the story. “His family kept saying how important they thought the movie was and that Val really wanted to be a part of this,” Voorhees explained. “He really thought it was an important story that he wanted his name on… Despite the fact some people might call it controversial, this is what Val wanted.”
The use of AI in As Deep as the Grave arrives at a pivotal moment for the film industry. While AI-assisted tools have been quietly employed in visual effects and post-production for some time, the technology is now capable of far more ambitious feats, including recreating performances. This project follows other recent examples of AI’s growing presence in Hollywood. In , Brady Corbet’s Oscar-winning film The Brutalist used AI to refine an actor’s accent, and , Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine entered into agreements with AI voice cloning companies.
However, Kilmer’s case is unique. It’s not about subtly enhancing a performance or creating a digital double for a stunt; it’s about realizing a role the actor himself was unable to play due to illness. The film will utilize a range of images and footage of Kilmer, spanning his career, to create a believable and nuanced portrayal of Father Fintan. Voorhees described the AI-generated Kilmer as having a “significant” presence in the film.
As Deep as the Grave is based on the true story of Southwestern archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris and their work with the Navajo people in Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, during the . The film aims to chronicle their efforts to trace the history of the Navajo people and uncover the origins of the Ancestral Puebloan civilization. The project, previously titled Canyon Del Muerto, has been in development since .
The cast also includes Tom Felton as Earl Morris, Bafta winner Abigail Lawrie as Ann Morris, Oscar winner Wes Studi, and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd. The film’s subject matter, exploring the intersection of archaeology, spirituality, and Native American history, clearly resonated with Kilmer, adding another layer of significance to his posthumous involvement.
Kilmer’s life and career were previously explored in the documentary Val, which utilized archive footage and voiceover from his son to offer an intimate portrait of the actor. As Deep as the Grave represents a different kind of legacy project – one that leverages cutting-edge technology to fulfill a creative vision that might otherwise have remained unrealized. The film’s release will undoubtedly spark further debate about the ethical and artistic implications of AI in filmmaking, but for Voorhees and the Kilmer family, it’s a testament to the actor’s enduring passion for storytelling and his commitment to projects that held personal meaning.
The use of AI to resurrect performances raises complex questions about authorship, authenticity, and the future of acting. While the technology offers exciting possibilities, it also demands careful consideration of its potential impact on the industry and the artistic integrity of filmmaking. As Deep as the Grave will likely serve as a landmark case study in this evolving landscape, prompting audiences and industry professionals alike to grapple with the implications of this new era in cinematic storytelling.