{"id":403783,"date":"2026-04-29T20:29:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T20:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/403783\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T20:29:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T20:29:12","slug":"val-kilmers-daughter-defends-using-ai-to-resurrect-him-for-new-movie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/403783\/","title":{"rendered":"Val Kilmer’s Daughter Defends Using AI to Resurrect Him for New Movie"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tVal Kilmer<\/a>\u2018s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, is defending the late actor\u2019s AI-generated appearance in the upcoming indie film \u201cAs Deep as the Grave<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kilmer\u2019s image and likeness were recreated using generative AI <\/a>for the film with the cooperation of his estate and daughter. The actor, who died in 2025 after battling throat cancer, was cast in the historical action film \u201cAs Deep as the Grave\u201d but was too sick to shoot his role. Diagnosed with cancer in 2014, Kilmer had previously partnered with U.K.-based company Sonantic to create an AI-powered speaking voice when he reprised his role as Tom \u201cIceman\u201d Kazansky in 2022\u2019s \u201cTop Gun: Maverick.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tMercedes Kilmer appeared on the \u201cToday Show\u201d<\/a> to discuss the mixed reactions fans had to her father\u2019s AI-generated role.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cIt started off as a way to overcome the limitations of his illness, but then it evolved into something that he really was like, \u2018Oh, wait. I have a chance to actually set a precedent,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of fallen into two camps. People that maybe have a more precarious position in the industry and are worried and see AI as a threat \u2014 which is absolutely valid \u2014 and younger people, younger actors and musicians. I\u2019m a musician and a lot of people that I know are so scared of this technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cAt the same time, I\u2019ve gotten a lot of like really good responses from people \u2014 older people, people maybe more established in the industry \u2014 that see it as a way to protect that actors\u2019 ownership of their IP. We have to contend with this technology one way or the other. And avoiding it, it\u2019s not necessarily the way. It\u2019s much easier to structure the rights if you proactively license something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coerte Voorhees, the writer and director of \u201cAs Deep as the Grave,\u201d previously told Variety<\/a> that Kilmer\u2019s role was \u201cvery much designed around him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was looking at a call sheet the other day, and we had him ready to shoot,\u201d he said. \u201cHe was just going through a really, really tough time medically, and he couldn\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis family kept saying how important they thought the movie was and that Val really wanted to be a part of this,\u201d he continued. \u201cHe really thought it was [an] important story that he wanted his name on. It was that support that gave me the confidence to say, \u2018Okay, let\u2019s do this.\u2019 Despite the fact some people might call it controversial, this is what Val wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe always looked at emerging technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling,\u201d Mercedes Kilmer said in a statement to Variety in March<\/a>. \u201cThis spirit is something that we are all honoring within this specific film, of which he was an integral part.\u201d<\/p>\n