Val Kilmer, the iconic Hollywood actor, passed away in 2025, yet he’s set to appear in a new movie even though he never filmed any scenes for it.
The film, titled “As Deep as the Grave,” has Kilmer cast as Father Fintan, a Catholic priest with Native American roots. Director Coerte Voorhees revealed that he chose Kilmer for this role five years prior to his death, but unfortunately, Kilmer was battling severe throat cancer and couldn’t participate in shooting.
To create his character, filmmakers pieced together images of Kilmer, many shared by his family, along with videos from his last years. Additionally, they used AI technology to integrate Kilmer’s voice, which had been affected by his health struggles.
“He was the perfect choice for this role,” Voorhees explained.
Reflecting on the creative process, Voorhees noted, “It was crafted around him and drew on his Native American heritage and love for the Southwest. I remember seeing a call sheet—we had him all set for shooting—but he was facing some really tough health issues at the time.”
Approval from Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes, and his estate allowed the use of advanced AI technology to bring Kilmer back to the screen. The director mentioned that Kilmer’s son Jack also supported this innovative approach.
“The family emphasized how significant they thought the film was and how much Val wanted to be involved,” Voorhees shared.
“He believed this story was important enough to be associated with. That encouragement from them made it easier for me to commit to this direction, even if some may view it as controversial. This was Val’s wish.”
Interestingly, the character Kilmer portrays also battles tuberculosis, mirroring the actor’s own health struggles during his fight with throat cancer, according to producer John Vorhees. This connection allows for a unique reflection of Kilmer’s actual experiences through the character.
The movie, an independent project, faced significant delays during the pandemic, extending production to six long years.
“In most cases, we’d simply find a replacement for the role. I prefer collaborating with our cast, and we have brilliant performances throughout. But we can’t afford to re-shoot. We’re not working with a big studio budget, so we had to get creative. Thankfully, the technology we needed was available,” Voorhees noted.
Both Voorhees and the film’s producer assert that the use of AI in this context is ethical and compliant with the Screen Actors Guild’s standards, also mentioning that Kilmer’s estate received compensation for his involvement.
Mercedes Kilmer added that her father had always viewed new technologies as a means to enrich storytelling. “This film honors that spirit, as he was a vital part of it,” she remarked.
