Val Kilmer returns via AI in 'As Deep as the Grave' trailer - ABC7 New York

Val Kilmer is returning to the screen, this time through artificial intelligence.

The late actor's digitally recreated likeness is featured in the first trailer for "As Deep as the Grave," a historical drama unveiled Wednesday at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

Directed by Coerte Voorhees, the indie film stars Abigail Lawrie, Tom Felton and Abigail Breslin. It follows real-life archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris as they uncover remains of the Ancestral Puebloans in the 1920s.

Kilmer appears as Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist.

In the trailer, his character delivers a chilling line, saying, "Don't fear the dead, and don't fear me."

Kilmer, who died in 2025 at 65, had been cast in the role years earlier but was unable to film due to declining health.

With the approval of his estate, including his daughter Mercedes, filmmakers used generative AI to complete the performance using archival material.

The footage shows Kilmer at different stages of life, from a younger priest to a ghost-like figure.

The use of AI to recreate a deceased actor has sparked debate in Hollywood. 

Speaking at CinemaCon, Voorhees said the team worked closely with Kilmer's family and followed industry guidelines, according to the Associated Press.

"Val Kilmer influenced this performance," he said.

Producer John Voorhees described the process as risky territory but said the production adhered to SAG-AFTRA standards centered on "consent, compensation and collaboration."

Kilmer's estate approved the project, was compensated and contributed materials to support the recreation, according to the filmmakers.

Filmmakers also pointed to Kilmer's own use of AI technology during his lifetime. 

After losing his natural voice following throat cancer, he worked with software to recreate it, which was later used in "Top Gun: Maverick."

Production on "As Deep as the Grave" began in 2020 in New Mexico but faced delays during the pandemic. 

Rather than recast the role after Kilmer stepped away, the team moved forward and later revisited how to incorporate his character into the story.

"We were so glad they were so excited and so supportive of the idea," the AP quoted Voorhees, referencing Kilmer's children. "We didn't want to do it unless everybody thought this was going to work properly."

Kilmer appears on screen for more than an hour, according to the filmmakers. A release date has not yet been announced.