Val Kilmer died last year, but the iconic actor has been brought back to life through the wonders of AI for As Deep as the Grave. The actor was actually attached to the historical drama before his death, and his family later granted writer-director Coerte Voorhees permission to use Kilmer’s likeness for the film. A new seven-minute clip from the film has been released, which specifically highlights the performance of the AI Val Kilmer. Check that out above.
I’ll be honest, there were a couple of moments that looked pretty damn good, but ultimately, I never lost sight of the fact that I was seeing and hearing an AI creation. That spark that made Kilmer such a wonderful and unpredictable actor is entirely missing. But as AI technology progresses… anything could be possible.
This isn’t a bit part either. According to IndieWire, the AI Kilmer will appear for roughly 1 hour and 17 minutes in the over-three-hour movie.
As unseemly as it might be to see Kilmer resurrected in this fashion, it has been approved by his family, with the actor’s daughter, Mercedes, defending the choice. “It started off as a way to overcome the limitations of his illness, but then it evolved into something that he really was like, ‘Oh, wait. I have a chance to actually set a precedent,’” Mercedes said. “It’s 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 — which is absolutely valid — and younger people, younger actors and musicians. I’m a musician and a lot of people that I know are so scared of this technology.“
The production relied on SAG guidelines and compensated Kilmer’s estate for his appearance. “We hope that we’re helping to lay the groundwork for how to do this properly,” Voorhees told IndieWire. “This process is about consent, collaboration, and compensation.“
As Deep as the Grave tells the true story of Southwestern archaeologists Ann (Abigail Lawrie) and Earl Morris (Tom Felton), chronicling their excavations in Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, as they trace the history of the Navajo people. Kilmer plays Father Fintan. The film doesn’t have an official release date yet.
What are your thoughts on the AI Val Kilmer in this clip?