The legendary Val Kilmer is set to be digitally revitalized for Conte Voorhees’ upcoming film, As Deep as the Grave, in which he was cast to portray a priest. Voorhees originally conceptualized the role specifically for Kilmer, intending to honor the actor’s Native American heritage. However, due to his long-standing health struggles, Kilmer was unable to film his scenes in person.
Years later, the director has opted to leverage cutting-edge AI technology to recreate Kilmer’s visual likeness for the screen. This digital performance has been officially sanctioned by the actor’s family.
Voorhees emphasizes that the project maintains the highest ethical standards, having coordinated all terms with the actors’ union and ensured that the appropriate royalties are paid to Kilmer’s estate. Furthermore, Kilmer himself was a vocal proponent of technological innovation in cinema; he previously utilized AI to reconstruct his voice for the blockbuster hit Top Gun: Maverick.
The plot of As Deep as the Grave follows two archaeologists as they delve into the rich cultural history and mysteries of the Navajo people.