Skip to main content
See every side of every news story
Published loading...Updated

An AI-Rendered Val Kilmer Will Posthumously Appear in a New Film

Val Kilmer’s estate and family supported using AI to recreate him in a key role, blending younger images and AI voice to honor his heritage and health conditions.

  • Kilmer's estate and family supported filmmakers' use of AI to include him in As Deep as the Grave, with Kilmer being recreated after his death last year.
  • Five years before his death, Val Kilmer was cast but too ill from throat cancer to film, and COVID pandemic delays stretched As Deep as the Grave’s indie production to six years.
  • The filmmakers combined younger images from Kilmer's family with footage from his final years and used AI-generated audio reflecting his damaged vocal condition, enabled by Sonantic.
  • The filmmakers say they followed SAG guidelines and compensated Kilmer's estate, while producers are seeking distribution with hopes of releasing the film this year amid possible industry criticism.
  • As an industry context, archival recreations have precedent, with Carrie Fisher's 2019 scenes and 'Tilly Norwood' prompting union criticism earlier this month, while Kilmer's death last year at age 65 frames this AI work as part of his legacy.
Insights by Ground AI

52 Articles

Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 74% of the sources are Center
74% Center

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

Consequence broke the news in on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal