Footage of As Deep As the Grave screened in the US, featuring an authorised visual deepfake of the actor who died in 2025
A trailer has been released for the first film to star an authorised generative AI version of a major Hollywood actor.
Val Kilmer was cast in western As Deep As the Grave before his death in April 2025. Production delays meant he never shot any scenes, but the creative team worked with UK-based company Sonantic to create an AI speaking voice based on his old recordings.
His estate and daughter Mercedes collaborated with the film-makers on the visual deepfake of the actor. Kilmer, who was diagnosed with throat cancer, was also assisted by technology for his cameo in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick.
In As Deep As the Grave, Kilmer plays Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist, and the trailer – which aired on Wednesday in Las Vegas trade show CinemaCon – indicates that his role is substantial and spans several time periods.
