# AI digital recreation of Val Kilmer in film > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ai-digital-recreation-of-val-kilmer-in-film > Updated: 2026-08-22T19:59:38.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. The historical drama ‘As Deep as the Grave’ has utilized generative artificial intelligence to digitally recreate the late actor Val Kilmer. Kilmer, who passed away in 2025, was originally cast as Father Fintan, a priest in the American Southwest, but was unable to film due to illness and pandemic-related delays. Filmmakers used archival footage, voice recordings, and photographs provided by the actor’s family to reconstruct his likeness and speech. The production team emphasized that the process was conducted with the consent and cooperation of Kilmer’s estate and children, adhering to SAG guidelines regarding ‘consent, collaboration, and compensation.’ Following the release of seven minutes of footage, a trailer was issued showing the AI-generated character. While the digital version of Kilmer is expected to appear for over an hour, early reactions to the trailer have noted technical limitations, specifically describing the digital appearance as having a ‘waxy texture’ and movements that ‘lack human weight.’ ## Timeline ### 2026-08-22: Val Kilmer digitally resurrected via AI for film ‘As Deep as the Grave’ The film ‘As Deep as the Grave’ uses generative AI to digitally recreate actor Val Kilmer for a role he was unable to film before his death in 2025. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/val-kilmer-digitally-resurrected-via-ai-for-film-as-deep-as-the-grave ### 2026-08-19: Val Kilmer digitally recreated via AI for ‘As Deep as the Grave’ The film ‘As Deep as the Grave’ has released footage featuring an AI-generated recreation of the late Val Kilmer, portraying a younger version of the actor with the consent of his family. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/val-kilmer-digitally-recreated-via-ai-for-as-deep-as-the-grave --- Cite as: AI digital recreation of Val Kilmer in film. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ai-digital-recreation-of-val-kilmer-in-film