The makers of “As Deep as the Grave” have released the first trailer for the upcoming historical drama, giving viewers a first look at the AI technology used to create Val Kilmer’s performance.
Kilmer, who died in 2025 after a battle with throat cancer, was cast as Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist, but was too ill to film the role. With the help of Kilmer’s estate and his daughter Mercedes, the “As Deep as the Grave” team used generative AI to include the actors in the finished film.
Kilmer appears multiple times in the trailer, which was first shown Wednesday at CinemaCon, an exhibition industry trade show in Las Vegas this week. The footage includes Kilmer at various ages, and at one point he becomes a ghostly, ghostly figure. At other times he is a dashing, serious man in his 30s.
“Don’t be afraid of the dead, don’t be afraid of me,” Kilmer told the child at one point, kneeling down and looking him straight in the eye.
Corte Voorhees, the film’s writer and director, and John Voorhees, the film’s producer and Kurte’s brother, claim they have worked with Kilmer’s family and found an ethical way to use the controversial technology. They note that the film, which tells the story of Anne Achtell Morris, one of the country’s first female archaeologists, and her excavations in Arizona’s Canyon de Chelly, resonated strongly with Kilmer.
“This movie was designed around him,” Corte Voorhees told Variety last month. “This film was about his Native American heritage and his connection and love for the Southwest…His family kept saying how important this film was and how Val really wanted to be a part of it.”
Director Corte Voorhees revealed at CinemaCon that Kilmer’s role is important and that his character will appear for over an hour of the film.
In Hollywood, there are concerns that AI could eliminate actors’ jobs as studios look for ways to cut costs. But the filmmakers of “As Deep as the Grave” insist they only used the technology out of necessity and that they had a deep desire to include Kilmer in their project. They also note that the production relied on SAG guidelines and compensated Kilmer’s estate for his appearance. The actor’s family provided archival material that the production used to create the performance.
Mercedes Kilmer said in a statement that her father would have wanted to appear in “Deep as the Grave.”
“He was always optimistic about new technology as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling,” said Mercedes Kilmer. “That spirit is something we all respect in this particular film, and he was an integral part of that film.”
Kilmer’s AI-generated presence in “As Deep as the Grave” draws a lot of attention, but the trailer also shows off some spectacular action. There are photos of excavation sites on dramatic cliff sides, buffalo galloping majestically along the plains, and cars attempting to pass through rapids. The ensemble includes Abigail Rowley, Tom Felton, Abigail Breslin, Tatanka Means, Jacob Fortune Lloyd, Wes Studi, and Finn Jones.
Below is an exclusive first look at “As Deep as the Grave”:
