Kilmer, who died in April 2025, stars in the movie “As Deep as the Grave” thanks to AI.

Val Kilmer’s daughter doubles down on late actor’s AI performance: ‘We have to contend with this technology’

Kilmer, who died in April 2025, stars in the movie "As Deep as the Grave" thanks to AI.

By Marina Watts

Marina Watts

Marina Watts is a news writer for with seven years experience covering entertainment, pop culture and celebrity news. Her previous work appears in PEOPLE, Bustle and Newsweek.

EW's editorial guidelines

April 29, 2026 1:16 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Val Kilmer as southwestern spiritual leader Father Fintan in 'As Deep as the Grave'. Credit:

Courtesy of First Line Films

- Val Kilmer's family is doubling down on the decision to depict him using AI in a new film.

- Kilmer's daughter said "we have to contend with this technology one way or the other. And avoiding it, it's not necessarily the way."

- The actor, who died in April 2025, stars in *As Deep as the Grave*, which started production as his health deteriorated.

Val Kilmer's family is standing behind the decision to depict him using AI in *As Deep as the Grave*.

Appearing on the *Today** *show on Wednesday morning, the late actor's daughter Mercedes Kilmer elaborated on how his AI performance came to be. (The *Top Gun *star died in April 2025 at 65 after being diagnosed with throat cancer.) Mercedes also addressed both the positive and negative feedback she's gotten surrounding the use of AI in the entertainment industry.

"It started off as a way to overcome the limitations of his illness, but then it evolved into something that he really was like, 'Oh, wait. I have a chance to actually set a precedent,'" she explained. "Now other actors will say, 'No, well, Val Kilmer, they structured his contract in that way.'"

Mercedes then spoke about the two different camps reacting to the news. The negative commentary comes from "people that maybe have a more precarious position in the industry and are worried and see AI as a threat — which is absolutely valid."

"Younger people, younger actors and musicians," she said. "I'm a musician and a lot of people that I know are so scared of this technology."

Mercedes Kilmer and Val Kilmer in Los Angeles in November 2019.

Michael Tullberg/Getty

However, positive commentary came from "older people" and those "more established in the industry." They "see it as a way to protect that actors' ownership of their IP," said Mercedes.

"We have to contend with this technology one way or the other. And avoiding it, it's not necessarily the way. It's much easier to structure the rights if you proactively license something.”

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

When Val's AI performance in *As Deep as the Grave *was initially announced, Mercedes addressed the decision to use the technology. The *Heat *actor was cast as a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist in the movie in 2020, but was ultimately unable to play the role due to his deteriorating health.

"My father was a deeply spiritual man and this story of discovery and enlightenment in the American Southwest and his unique role in it really resonated with him," Mercedes told *Variety** *at the time.

"He always looked at emerging technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling," she added. "This spirit is something that we are all honoring within this specific film, of which he was an integral part."

Behind the scenes of that Val Kilmer-Tom Cruise reunion in 'Top Gun: Maverick'

The 10 best Val Kilmer movies ranked, from the slapstick of 'Top Secret!' to the soul of 'Heat'

The Kilmer estate granted director Coerte Voorhees permission to use his voice and image in the movie. The production adhered to SAG guidelines and compensated the estate for the AI appearance.

Voorhees also told *Variety** *that the late actor's family emphasized how important the movie was to him. "He really thought it was an important story that he wanted his name on. It was that support that gave me the confidence to say, 'Okay let's do this.' Despite the fact some people might call it controversial, this is what Val wanted."**

Val Kilmer in Santa Monica, California in September 2013.

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

An exact release date for *As Deep as the Grave* has yet to be announced.**

- Celebrities & Creators

- Celebrity Friends and Family

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Celebrity”