Hollywood is pushing deeper into generative AI, and its latest move revives a major star.
Val Kilmer, who died in 2025 at age 65, will appear in the upcoming drama As Deep As the Grave.
Filmmakers will recreate his performance using AI, with support from his estate.
Kilmer had already signed onto the project before his death from throat cancer. Now, the production will complete his role digitally, marking another step in AI-driven filmmaking.
Director Coerte Voorhees confirmed that the role was always meant for Kilmer.
The actor will portray Father Fintan, a Native American spiritualist and Catholic priest.
“He was the actor I wanted to play this role,” Voorhees said to Variety. “It drew on his Native American heritage and his ties to and love of the south-west.”
Kilmer could not reach the set due to his illness. The production paused, but the team chose not to recast. Instead, they turned to generative AI.
The filmmakers are working closely with Kilmer’s estate. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, supports the effort. His son, Jack Kilmer, also backs the project.
“His family kept saying how important they thought the movie was and that Val really wanted to be a part of this,” Voorhees said.
“He really thought it was important story that he wanted his name on … Despite the fact some people might call it controversial, this is what Val wanted.”
The AI version will appear in a “significant” portion of the film. Developers will train models using images of Kilmer from across his life. The goal is to recreate him at different ages.
Story rooted in history
As Deep As the Grave tells a real story from the 1920s. It follows archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris. They worked with the Navajo people to study early North American civilizations.
Their work focused on the Ancestral Puebloans. The discoveries shaped modern understanding of early societies in the American Southwest.
The film was earlier titled Canyon Del Muerto. It has remained in development since 2023.
Tom Felton will play Earl Morris. Abigail Lawrie will portray Ann Morris. The supporting cast includes Wes Studi and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd.
Kilmer’s role ties closely to the film’s cultural themes. He had long supported Native American rights and identified with Cherokee heritage.
AI expands in Hollywood
The project reflects a broader shift across the industry. Studios are increasingly using AI to enhance or recreate performances.
In 2024, The Brutalist used AI to refine Adrien Brody’s Hungarian accent. Voice cloning has also gained traction.
Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine signed agreements with ElevenLabs. The company can now generate AI versions of their voices.
These tools promise new creative options. They also raise ethical questions about consent and legacy.
Kilmer’s return sits at the center of that debate. The filmmakers argue they are honoring his intent. Critics question how far the technology should go.
For now, As Deep As the Grave stands as a high-profile test.
It could shape how Hollywood uses AI to preserve performances long after actors are gone.