As Deep as the Grave Filmmakers Defend Recreating Val Kilmer Using AI
As Deep as the Grave, an upcoming independent film, will feature an AI recreation of Val Kilmer in a significant role. Kilmer, who passed away in 2025, never filmed material for the project. The filmmakers revealed the first teaser trailer and defended their decision at CinemaCon’s Wednesday presentation during a Q&A session with director Coerte Voorhees and other cast members.
The production reportedly used AI to recreate the actor due to budget constraints. Notably, the project has been approved by Kilmer’s family, addressing potential concerns about the unconventional casting approach. The decision represents a growing trend of using artificial intelligence to bring deceased or unavailable performers to screen, raising both technical and ethical questions within the entertainment industry about the future of digital recreation in filmmaking.