Nearly a year after his passing, late Hollywood star Val Kilmer is set to return to the screen in an unexpected way. The actor has been digitally resurrected using generative AI for an upcoming film titled As Deep as the Grave.
The film, which has been renamed from Canyon Of The Dead, was originally cast with Val as a Catholic priest, Father Fintan, but the actor's cancer worsened, preventing him from filming any scenes. Now, six years later, one year after Val's death, the late actor is set to return to the screen with the film, which has been made possible by generative AI.
The first look of the film has also been released. The film's writer and director, Coerte Voorhees, says that the film was designed around Val and drew on his Native American heritage and his ties to and love of the Southwest.
As per Variety, it was done with the actor's permission and the support of his family and estate. His family is supportive of the movie and provided the production with younger images of him to use. The outlet also reports that the estate was also compensated.
The AI-generated version of the actor will appear in "a significant part" of the finished film. The project has used both younger images of Val, many of them provided by his family, and footage from his final years to show his character in various stages of his life. The audio also utilises Val's voice.
