Val Kilmer AI

As Deep as the Grave. Or as shallow as the AI.

Almost a year after legendary actor Val Kilmer passed, he is set to appear in a supporting role in As Deep as the Grave, an indie film using AI to create a digital likeness of the actor.

The Heat star was originally cast in the project as Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist, but due to his rapidly worsening throat cancer, Kilmer never made it to set.

The film’s writer-director Coerte Voorhees shared:

“He was the actor I wanted to play this role. It was very much designed around him.”

The move feels inevitable given the omnipresent rise of AI creeping into the film industry, but poses dangerous risks as it is essentially turning a human with a pretty preeminent legacy into something manufactured. Thus stripping him of all artistic integrity.

While there have been versions of this over the years, it reminds me of the final installment of The Hunger Games franchise, where the (also legendary) Phillip Seymour Hoffman passed before they could finish his scenes. With about 80% of his filming completed, the filmmakers were able to rework already shot footage, resulting in a finished project that was 100% Hoffman.

Given Kilmer wasn’t able to shoot anything for an already small role, I don’t see the need to go through all this trouble. There are plenty of living actors who could play the role.

While Kilmer’s estate has been working with the film, the first look image (above) doesn’t look promising.