Mercedes Kilmer Defends AI-Powered Val Kilmer Performance in Upcoming Film 'As Deep as the Grave'

Mercedes Kilmer, daughter of the late actor Val Kilmer, has spoken out in defense of the use of artificial intelligence to recreate her father’s likeness for an upcoming film.

Kilmer appeared on NBC’s “The Today Show” on Wednesday to address the mixed reactions surrounding the decision to use AI-generated performances in “As Deep as the Grave”, an indie film in which Val Kilmer was originally cast before his death.

Val Kilmer’s AI Legacy and Industry Impact

Val Kilmer died in April 2025 at the age of 65 after a prolonged battle with throat cancer. Though he was too ill to participate in the film, his estate granted permission to the director of “As Deep as the Grave” to use his voice and image through AI technology.

Kilmer had previously collaborated with Sonantic, a company specializing in AI voice synthesis, to create a digital voice for his brief appearance in “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022). His daughter explained how this technology evolved from a medical necessity into a groundbreaking industry precedent.

“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.’”

Diverse Industry Reactions to AI in Film

Mercedes Kilmer highlighted the polarized responses to AI in entertainment, noting concerns from younger actors and musicians who view the technology as a threat to job security.

“People that maybe have a more precarious position in the industry and are worried and see AI as a threat — which is absolutely valid — and younger people, younger actors and musicians. I’m a musician and a lot of people that I know are so scared of this technology.”

She also acknowledged positive feedback from established industry figures who see AI as a way to preserve actors’ intellectual property rights.

“At the same time, I’ve gotten a lot of really good responses from people — older people, people maybe more established in the industry — that see it as a way to protect that actor’s ownership of their IP. 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.”

Val Kilmer’s Career and Final Projects

Val Kilmer was best known for his roles in “Tombstone” (1993), “Top Gun” (1986), “Batman Forever” (1995), and “Heat” (1995), where he starred alongside Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.

Despite his casting in “As Deep as the Grave” in 2020, the film has yet to receive a release date. The Kilmer estate’s decision to use AI technology reflects a growing trend in Hollywood, where digital recreation of actors is becoming more common.