Mercedes Kilmer Defends AI Recreating Val Kilmer in Film

Mercedes Kilmer, daughter of the late actor Val Kilmer, defended the use of artificial intelligence to recreate her father's likeness and performance in the upcoming film "As Deep as the Grave," one year after his death at age 65 from pneumonia linked to throat cancer.

Kilmer, who succumbed to complications from a 2014 throat cancer diagnosis and subsequent tracheotomy, was cast in 2018 as Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist, in the independent production directed by Coerte Voorhees. The project stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and by the time filming resumed, his health prevented physical participation. Producers used existing photos, footage, and audio recordings to generate his entire onscreen presence, with approval and compensation from his estate in line with Screen Actors Guild guidelines.

Mercedes Kilmer addressed concerns during a recent appearance on the "Today" show, describing the AI application as an evolution from aiding her father's illness limitations into an opportunity to establish industry standards. "It started off as a way to overcome the limitations of his illness, but then it evolved into something that he really...