Los Angeles, Mercedes Kilmer, the daughter of late Hollywood star Val Kilmer, has come out in defence of her father's AI-generated appearance in the upcoming indie film "As Deep as the Grave".
The film, a historical drama, features Val Kilmer as Father Finton, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist, and his character appears for over an hour, according to director Coerte Voorhees.
Mercedes Kilmer said the project had evolved beyond a workaround for her father's illness and offered him a chance to set a precedent on actors owning their digital likeness.
She acknowledged the mixed reaction to her father's AI recreation, but argued that engaging with the technology proactively was preferable to avoiding it.
Val Kilmer had previously turned to AI to navigate the effects of his illness, partnering with UK-based company Sonantic to create an AI-powered voice for his role in "Top Gun: Maverick" in 2022.
The trailer for "As Deep as the Grave" was recently unveiled at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, featuring Kilmer at various ages, including as a ghost-like figure and as a young man.
