AI Brings Late Val Kilmer Back to the Screen

The first footage of a digitally resurrected Val Kilmer has been unveiled at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, sparking intense debate over the use of artificial intelligence in cinema.

In the trailer for the upcoming historical drama As Deep as the Grave, a youthful AI version of Kilmer—who passed away in April 2025—is seen portraying a Catholic priest in the American Southwest.

Directors Coerte and John Voorhees revealed that the project was completed with the full consent and collaboration of Kilmer’s children, using the actor’s extensive personal video archives to train the AI.

While the use of “digital twins” remains a sensitive topic following the 2023 Hollywood strikes, the filmmakers maintain that they adhered to SAG-AFTRA’s core principles of consent, compensation, and collaboration.

The film, which also explores the lives of archaeologists who inspired Indiana Jones, is slated for release by the end of 2026.