The SAG-AFTRA has issued a notice on the use of artificial intelligence to recreate late actor Val Kilmer in the upcoming film ‘As Deep as the Grave’. Amid the ongoing debate about the use of AI in Hollywood films, SAG-AFTRA, shared their stand in such a case.
Val Kilmer recreated with AI
Kilmer, who died in 2025, had reportedly been cast as Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist. However, according to Variety, he was unable to film his scenes due to his battle with throat cancer. Filmmaker Coerte Voorhees then turned to AI to incorporate the actor into the project and secured the approval of Kilmer’s estate and his children.
SAG-AFTRA issues statement
Formally commenting on the same, SAG-AFTRA issued a statement that read, “The applicable SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining agreement, as well as state law, requires consent from the estate to use a digital replica of a deceased performer in a motion picture. We understand from reporting on the A.I. digital replica of Val Kilmer for the upcoming ‘As Deep as the Grave’, that the family’s consent was obtained. We take these obligations seriously and will continue to enforce strict compliance with both contractual requirements and legal standards. Any use of digital replicas must be transparent, properly authorised and fully aligned with the rights of performers and their estate.”
‘As Deep as the Grave’ director reacts to AI backlash
Last week, director Voorhees defended his decision to turn to technology to eature the actor in his film, stating, “He was the actor I wanted to play this role. It was very much designed around him. It drew on his Native American heritage and his ties to and love of the Southwest.” He added, “His family kept saying how important they thought the movie was and that Val really wanted to be a part of this. Despite the fact some people might call it controversial, this is what Val wanted.“
Val Kilmer’s daughter reats
Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, also assured her support and concent for the project. In a statement, she said to the portal, “He always looked at emerging technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling.”
How Val Kilmer was replicated using AI
As per the report, the film uses both, archival footage and images provided by the family to bring Kilmer to life on the big screen. His voice was also generated using old clips as the actor’s vocal cords were affected following his cancer treatment.‘As Deep as the Grave’, initially began before the COVID-19 pandemic. The film’s production faced several delays, prolonging the production for a total of six years.
