AI version of late actor Val Kilmer to co-star in new movie
2026.03.19 03:50 A tribute to Val Kilmer during the ‘In Memoriam’ segment at the Actor Awards in Los Angeles this month. Photo: Reuters Actor Val Kilmer will posthumously appear in what First Line Films calls a first-ever performance enabled by generative artificial intelligence in the upcoming film As Deep as the Grave, the production company announced on Wednesday. Kilmer, best known for roles in Top Gun, The Doors and Batman Forever, had originally been cast as Father Fintan - a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist - but was unable to work on set due to complications stemming from throat cancer. He was 65 when he died in April last year. Working closely with Kilmer’s estate and his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, the filmmakers say the decision to use AI technology was made with the intention of honouring the actor’s deep personal connection to the role. “At the time that he was cast, Kilmer expressed that the character of Fintan spoke to him both culturally and spiritually,” First Line Films said in a press release, citing his Native American heritage and long-time love of the American southwest. Val Kilmer in 2014. Photo: AP Written and directed by Coerte Voorhees, As Deep as the Grave follows southwestern archaeologists Ann Morris, played by Tin Star actor Abigail Lawrie, and Earl Morris, portrayed by Harry Potter star Tom Felton. The film centres on their excavations in Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, while also exploring the history and lived experiences of the Navajo people. First Line Films, which is based in New Mexico, said it would employ state-of-the-art generative AI technology to recreate Kilmer’s performance for the film, allowing him to embody what the company described as a “historically significant” character. After losing his natural speaking voice, Kilmer turned to an AI software company to digitally recreate his voice. In his final screen performance, 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, Kilmer’s voice was digitally altered. A California
原文链接: 南华早报