AceShowbiz - The trailer for the upcoming film As Deep as the Grave prominently features an AI-generated portrayal of Val Kilmer, marking a unique approach to completing the late actor’s role.

Written and directed by Coerte Voorhees, the indie movie premiered its first footage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Alongside Val Kilmer’s digital likeness, the film stars Abigail Lawrie, Tom Felton, and Abigail Breslin.

As Deep as the Grave tells the story of real-life archaeologists Ann Morris, portrayed by Lawrie, and Earl Morris, played by Felton. The narrative focuses on their 1920s excavation of Ancestral Puebloan remains, shedding light on their significant contributions to archaeology.

Val Kilmer’s AI-generated character is Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist. In the trailer, his digital form delivers the line, “Don’t fear the dead, and don’t fear me.” This role holds particular spiritual and cultural significance within the film’s storyline.

The actor, who passed away in April 2025 at age 65 following a prolonged battle with throat cancer, was originally cast in the film but was unable to physically perform his scenes due to health issues. In response, director Voorhees and the production company First Line Films decided to digitally recreate Kilmer’s performance with the full support of his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer.

Voorhees previously explained, “When Val came onboard the project five years ago, he immediately identified with the historical southwestern spiritual character of Father Fintan, and understood the importance of elevating awareness of Ann Morris’ incredible story as the first female archaeologist in North America.” He added that it was unfortunate Kilmer’s health prevented him from filming a role that resonated deeply with him on spiritual and cultural levels.

Mercedes Kilmer commented on her father’s involvement, stating, “He always looked at emerging technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling. This spirit is something that we are all honoring within this specific film, of which he was an integral part.”

The use of AI to digitally recreate Val Kilmer’s performance comes amid ongoing industry debates about AI’s role in Hollywood. Recent legislation has aimed to protect actors’ digital likeness rights after death, a topic generating considerable discussion among artists and unions such as SAG-AFTRA.

This AI-generated portrayal highlights the evolving intersection between technology and filmmaking, especially when honoring the legacy of actors who can no longer perform on screen.