The late Val Kilmer’s family has reportedly approved the use of AI to create an avatar and voice of the late Val Kilmer in the movie, “As Deep as the Grave.”
Kilmer had signed to star in the movie before his passing to pneumonia at the age of 65.
His daughter Mercedes Kilmer 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.”
The film’s writer and director Coerte Voorhees told Variety: “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 important story that he wanted his name on.”
According to Variety, “Kilmer, or the AI generated version of the actor, will appear in ‘a significant part’ of the finished film.” The article also states that “the production relied on SAG guidelines and compensated Kilmer’s estate for his appearance.”