Late actor Val Kilmer resurrected with AI in 'As Deep as the Grave' trailer - WATCH

The filmmakers behind "As Deep as the Grave," the indie film that is using an artificial intelligence-rendered version of Val Kilmer in a prominent role, debuted a first look at the recreated actor Wednesday at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

"Don't fear the dead and don't fear me," Kilmer's character, Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist, says at the end of the trailer.

Watch Val Kilmer in 'As Deep as the Grave' trailer

The actor died last year at 65, of pneumonia. The use of generative AI to recreate Kilmer for the historical drama based on archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris became a hot button topic when the filmmakers announced it last month. The trailer shows Kilmer's character at various ages.

Voorhees said that Kilmer is on screen in the movie for one hour and 17 minutes; The final runtime was not revealed but he said it's long. The filmmakers plan to release it sometime this year.

Director Voorhees on using AI to feature Val Kilmer

Writer-director Coerte Voorhees, along with his brother John, spoke on a panel Wednesday about the controversial decision to use technology to create a performance from a deceased actor and explained why they feel they've done it ethically by working with Kilmer's children and the actors union. Coerte Voorhees stopped short of calling it a Val Kilmer performance, however.

"Val Kilmer influenced this performance," Coerte Voorhees said.

How Val Kilmer used AI in films when he was alive

He also compared Kilmer's AI-rendered performance to any actor portraying a historical figure on screen, as Kilmer once did with Jim Morrison in "The Doors." Kilmer also utilized AI while he was alive. When he lost his natural speaking voice following a throat cancer diagnosis and two tracheotomies, he turned to an AI software company to digitally recreate his voice. Kilmer's voice was also digitally altered to help his final screen performance in "Top Gun: Maverick."

Val Kilmer signed 'As Deep As The Grave' before demise

Kilmer had signed on to "As Deep as the Grave" years ago; Much of the film was structured around his character, they said. When Kilmer had to pull out at the last minute due to health issues they decided to proceed shooting without the character instead of recasting the role. The production had numerous stops and starts as one of the first to begin shooting in New Mexico in the fall of 2020 amid the pandemic. They realized later that the story really did need Father Fintan, and decided to broach the topic with Kilmer's children, Mercedes and Jack.

"We were so glad they were so excited and so supportive of the idea," Coerte Voorhees said. "We didn't want to do it unless everybody thought this was going to work properly."

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