Val Kilmer digitally resurrected via AI for film ‘As Deep as the Grave’

The historical drama ‘As Deep as the Grave’ has released a trailer featuring a digital recreation of actor Val Kilmer. Following Kilmer’s death in April 2025, director Coerte Voorhees and producer John Voorhees decided to use generative artificial intelligence to restore his role as Father Fintan, a Catholic priest in the 1920s American Southwest.

Kilmer had originally been cast in the film years prior, but health complications from throat cancer prevented him from filming any scenes. The filmmakers utilized photographs provided by the actor’s family, along with archival footage and voice recordings, to reconstruct his likeness and speech. The production team stated the decision was made with the consent of Kilmer’s family, including his daughter Mercedes Kilmer, in an effort to establish an ethical approach to using a deceased performer’s image.

In the film, the AI-generated version of Kilmer is expected to appear for over an hour. While the filmmakers aimed for a performance close to how the actor would have played the part, early reactions to the trailer have noted technical limitations, describing the digital appearance as having a waxy texture and movements that lack human weight.