From Fox News: Fans are reacting strongly to the news of Val Kilmer returning to the screen without ever stepping on the set.
An artificial intelligence version of the actor, who died last year, will star in the new independent film “As Deep as the Grave.” Kilmer was cast in the role of Father Fintan before his death but wasn’t able to do any filming because of his battle with throat cancer. And, for many, the announcement isn’t good news.
“He was the actor I wanted to play this role,” writer and director Coerte Voorhees told Variety this week. “It was very much designed around him. It drew on his Native American heritage and his ties to and love of the Southwest.
“I was looking at a call sheet the other day, and we had him ready to shoot. He was just going through a really, really tough time medically, and he couldn’t do it.”
Man fans are not cool with the idea, and are responding to a post on X by Variety. Below are just a few of the nearly 2,000 comments being posted.
This is wrong. Period. We know those contracts in Hollywood make you sign away your likeness for life per Dave Chapel but this is just wrong.
This is difficult. If Val wanted this, and desired to go with “one final hurray”, maybe it is acceptable. (When Oliver Reed died during Gladiator, they used a body double + light CGI to finish his scenes). But, when this becomes the norm…
Sweet! A movie I can cross off watching entirely. One less thing to worry about catching up on, thanks Hollywood!
Did he say he was cool with this kinda thing before he died? If not, probably a gross thing to do.
How does one have the morality to posthumously create a digital clone of a human being and profit off their popularity, i genuinely don’t get it
I am adverse to actors being resurrected through AI especially for multiple productions well beyond their death. But an active/unfinished product that halted due to like circumstances is worth debate. Would Kilmer allow it to finish the project, considering all the ppl and efforts involved?
This definitely going too far and is uncomfortable for me…
Cant we remember his Legacy by… idk his legacy!? His 100+ films!?
What’s the point of hiring new actors anymore if they can do this?
FIRST LOOK: Val Kilmer has been resurrected via AI to star in the new movie “As Deep as the Grave.”
Kilmer was cast in the movie in 2020, five years before his death. But he was too sick amid his throat cancer battle to ever make it to set. Now an AI version of the actor is… pic.twitter.com/OjWHUdrsXn
— Variety (@Variety) March 18, 2026
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