Trailer Unveils AI Val Kilmer in As Deep as the Grave

Filmmakers unveiled a trailer for the independent historical drama "As Deep as the Grave" at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on April 15, 2026, showcasing an artificial intelligence-generated likeness of the late Val Kilmer in a key role. The footage marks the first public glimpse of Kilmer portraying Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist, nearly a year after his death.

Kilmer, who died in April 2025 at age 65 from pneumonia following a decade-long battle with throat cancer, had been cast in the project in 2020. Diagnosed in 2014, he underwent tracheotomies that left him unable to speak naturally, prompting the use of AI to recreate his voice in his final film role in "Top Gun: Maverick." For "As Deep as the Grave," director and writer Coerte Voorhees turned to similar technology after Kilmer's health prevented him from filming. The production, which faced delays from the COVID-19 pandemic and budget constraints, initially omitted the character but later reinstated it as essential to the narrative.

The film recounts the true story of archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris, portrayed by Abigail Lawrie and Tom Felton, as they excavated sites in Canyon de Chelly,...