AceShowbiz - Val Kilmer is set to appear on the big screen once again, but this time through the use of generative AI technology, a development embraced by his family. The late actor’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, has given permission for her father to be digitally resurrected for the upcoming historical action-adventure film As Deep as the Grave.

Val Kilmer had been cast in the film near the end of his life when AI was already assisting in restoring his speaking voice, which he lost due to throat cancer. Unfortunately, he passed away before production began. Rather than recasting the role, the filmmakers chose to utilize AI to bring Kilmer’s character to life, resulting in a performance that some viewers may find eerie but meaningful.

Mercedes Kilmer explained to The Today Show that what started as a way to overcome her father’s medical challenges evolved into an opportunity to set a precedent for the use of AI in film. She noted the divide in the entertainment industry regarding AI: “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.”

At the same time, Mercedes has received positive feedback from more established industry professionals who view AI as a means to protect actors’ ownership of their intellectual property. She emphasized the importance of proactively licensing rights in the face of advancing technology: “We have to contend with this technology one way or the other. And avoiding it, it’s not necessarily the way. It’s much easier to structure the rights if you proactively license something.”

As Deep as the Grave tells the story of North America’s first female archaeologist, Ann Morris, and her 1920s exploration of the Ancestral Puebloans’ world. The film stars Abigail Lawrie, Tom Felton, Hanako Footman, Ewen Bremner, and Abigail Breslin.

Writer and director Coerte Voorhees shared with Variety that Kilmer was the original choice for the role, which was tailored to him and inspired by his Native American heritage and connection to the American Southwest. “He was just going through a really, really tough time medically, and he couldn’t do it,” Voorhees said. “His family kept saying how important they thought the movie was and that Val really wanted to be a part of this. He really thought it was an important story that he wanted his name on.”

Voorhees added that the family’s support gave him the confidence to move forward with the AI approach despite potential controversy: “Despite the fact some people might call it controversial, this is what Val wanted.”

The use of AI in As Deep as the Grave reflects a broader debate within Hollywood about the technology’s role. On one hand, AI is viewed as a cost-saving tool for effects, writing, and performance recreation. On the other, it raises concerns about job security, creativity, and the future of authentic storytelling.

Mercedes Kilmer’s stance highlights one perspective within the industry that sees AI as a way to preserve legacy and creatively adapt, rather than replace. Her remarks suggest a growing recognition that embracing AI with clear rights agreements may offer a path forward in an evolving entertainment landscape.

As the film nears release, audiences will witness how AI can be employed to honor an actor’s final wishes while telling compelling stories rooted in history and culture, all while igniting important conversations about the ethical use of emerging technologies in cinema.