Top Gun's Val Kilmer to Star in New Movie As AI After Death

First Line Films has announced that the deceased, Val Kilmer, will star in a new historical drama titled ‘As Deep As The Grave.’

So far, we’ve had Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated music, AI work search engines, and now, the film industry might have just introduced a whole new use for it. In the last 48 hours, First Line Films confirmed that American actor Val Kilmer, best known for his roles in Top Gun and Joel Schumacher’s 1995 Batman Forever, is set to appear in Coerte Voorhees next movie.

Kilmer’s appearance in As Deep As the Grave as an AI-generated figure will make a first in cinematic history. The movie was originally pitched to Kilmer in 2020, but the actor’s physical health was deteriorating at the time. This made him unfit for the filming process.

In April 2025, Kilmer sadly passed away from pneumonia. In 2014, the actor was officially diagnosed with throat cancer, but had ignored several signs that had led up to the diagnosis. Unbeknownst to the public, it wasn’t until 2017 that this information was revealed. Kilmer would go on to recover from throat cancer in 2021. However, his official cause of death was pneumonia.

Val Kilmer wearing a Trachea device. — Val Kilmer. Photo Credit: Concord P2C

The Details of As Deep As The Grave

Following 2020 discussions with Voorhees, Kilmer was officially cast as Father Fintan in the movie, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist. Speaking in a press release, the director urged that, “at the time that ⁠he was cast, Kilmer expressed that the character of Fintan spoke to him both culturally and spiritually.”

Voorhees also expressed that his team have been in contact with Kilmer’s estate and daughter, Mercedes, to discuss the process of making an AI-generated figure of the late director for the movie. He says:

“His family kept saying how important they thought the movie was and that Val really wanted to be a part of this. 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 [that] some people might call it controversial, this is what Val wanted.”

What is Val Kilmer Most Famous For?

Throughout his almost 40-year career, Kilmer starred in over 50 movies. Making a name for himself as a credible actor in areas such as action and sci-fi, Kilmer very quickly became a treasure to watch. Though it’s said that he was not the easiest to work with, the actor never failed to turn heads in the way he was able to transform each of his characters.

In 1986, Kilmer first made headlines as Tom Kazansky in Tony Scott’s Top Gun. A movie that broke the box office upon release. Two decades later, the actor returned as Kazansky for Top Gun: Maverick. A well-anticipated follow-up, Kilmer’s appearance in this movie brought a lot of sentiment to the storyline.

It almost goes without saying that Top Gun wasn’t Kilmer’s only hit. Other notable movies he starred in include Batman Forever, Deja Vu, The Prince of Egypt and others.

How does the future of AI affect the younger generation?

Creativity is a gift. As new talent emerges year after year, the youth continue to prove themselves as the saving grace of creative industries. Voorhees’ movie with Kilmer starring as an AI-generated character is an interesting progression for the film industry. However, it could have a strong negative impact on the younger generation. It spreads two particularly dangerous messages. One, that computerised creativity is more advanced and thus more encouraged than authentic work. Secondly, it promotes the idea that humans are merely replaceable, easily disposable elements of the film industry.

What happens next?

While we can’t avoid the rapid pace at which AI seems to be growing, we can educate people on the harm it causes. This harm is inevitably going to trickle down into the younger generations, if not handled properly.

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Laviea Thomas

Journalist at Inside Success | Website | + posts

Laviea Thomas is a journalist at Inside Success who writes about film, music and politics.

Outside of that, she is an experienced freelance journalist with bylines in NME, The Quietus, Metal Hammer and more.

Over the years, Laviea has been an active panellist discussing fundamental conversations in the music industry, such as diversity and inclusion, and the importance of grassroots venues. She has been a panel guest for Kerrang! Focus Wales Festival, Future Yard and more.