Artificial intelligence brings Val Kilmer back to the big screen a year after his death

Actor Val Kilmer passed away in 2025, but will be seen in an upcoming movie he didn’t live to make. The archeology historical drama “Deep as a Grave” will include a story AI version The actor who died at the age of 65 after a battle with throat cancer. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen studios use AI in this way, but it may be the most successful.

Director and writer Kurti Voorhees It was revealed to Variety on Wednesday that he will use artificial intelligence to re-image Kilmer to play Father Fintan, a Native American priest.

“Deep in the Grave” tells the true story of a pair of archaeologists who worked with the Navajo people in the 1920s to learn about early American civilizations. Voorhees says that Kilmer agreed to play the role five years ago, but the actor’s suffering from throat cancer made him unable to complete work on it. There is no release date for the film yet.

Hollywood actors have increasingly found themselves at odds with generative artificial intelligence, the technology by which this happens I quickly started to creep up Almost every aspect of the entertainment industry. From writing scripts to creating digital likenesses of actors’ faces and voices, Artificial intelligence now has the ability to replicate performances with amazing realism. In some cases, studios have gone further, creating entirely new products artificial intelligence “actors” Who can perform without entering the group. This has raised complex questions about consent, compensation, and creative ownership, as performers grapple with the reality that their identities and crafts can now be reproduced, modified, or even replaced by algorithms.

These were attempts The labor union SAG-AFTRA strongly opposed it He represents artists who participated in strikes against video game companies and is Currently in risky negotiations with film and television studios. The labor union has certain protections against generative AI after a strike that lasted more than 100 days, including Clear consent requirements And fair compensation. Current negotiations would expand this protection.

A SAG-AFTRA representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Voorhees says that the Kilmer children approve of the AI’s resurrection.

“(Kilmer) has always viewed emerging technologies optimistically as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling,” his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, said in a statement. According to Variety. “That spirit is something we all honor in this particular film, which was an integral part of it.”