- Primary Subject: The AI-generated "resurrection" of the late Val Kilmer in As Deep as the Grave
- Key Update: Director Coerte Voorhees debuted the first trailer, confirming the "resurrected" Kilmer.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: April 16, 2026
- Quick Answer: As Deep as the Grave features a generative AI version of Val Kilmer, sanctioned by his estate, appearing for over seventy minutes as a spiritualist priest.
The first trailer for the upcoming film As Deep as the Grave was recently released, giving fans an early look at the AI "resurrection" of Val Kilmer.
The late actor passed away last year following his battle with throat cancer. However, while he wasn't able to act on screen in his final years, fans will still be able to watch a "performance" from him in the upcoming movie through the use of generative AI technology, which allowed filmmakers to digitally resurrect him.
As Deep as the Grave Trailer First Look Reveals AI Val Kilmer
The filmmakers of As Deep as the Grave recently unveiled the first trailer for the upcoming independent historical action adventure movie.
The biggest highlight of the trailer is the first look at the AI "resurrection" of the late Val Kilmer, who is playing the role of Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist.
He was originally attached to play the role on screen years before his passing, but he was too sick to shoot.
In the footage, we see Kilmer at different stages: in some clips, he appears frail and shadow-like, while in others, he is the picture of a charismatic young clergyman.
When the trailer was presented at CinemaCon, director Coerte Voorhees revealed that Kilmer’s role is substantial and his character will have a screen time of over an hour.
So far, there is no release window or distributor set yet for the movie. However, with the appearance of the AI version of Kilmer, it has been garnering a lot of interest among the audiences and fans of the late actor.
Did Val Kilmer's Family Approve the Use of AI in the Movie?
Fans have been wondering whether Kilmer's family approved the project's decision to "resurrect" him using AI technology.
Voorhees confirmed that it was done with the cooperation of the late actor’s estate and his daughter, Mercedes. Kilmer's son, Jack, has also been supportive.
"His family kept saying how important they thought the movie was and that Val really wanted to be a part of this," he said.
"He really thought it was an important story that he wanted his name on. It was that support that gave me the confidence to say, 'Okay, let’s do this.' Despite the fact that some people might call it controversial, this is what Val wanted."
Mercedes has also released a statement and shared why her father would have approved the use of AI for him to appear in the movie.
"My father was a deeply spiritual man, and this story of discovery and enlightenment in the American Southwest and his unique role in it really resonated with him," she said.
"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."
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