AI Is Being Used to Revive Val Kilmer For One More Performance

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The upcoming movie, Canyon of the Dead, will include a final performance by Val Kilmer, made possible through artificial intelligence. Filming for the historical drama began before Kilmer’s passing in 2025, and he was able to participate in some of the shooting.

As reported by Flickering Myth, Val Kilmer’s family has approved the use of his image in a new film directed and written by Coerte Voorhees. This project will use artificial intelligence to recreate Kilmer for one last on-screen performance, marking a significant moment for both filmmaking and how actors are remembered.

Although Canyon of the Dead takes place in the past, how it was made could influence things going forward.

Kilmer’s Role and AI Recreation

In October 2020, The Hollywood Reporter revealed a new movie, Canyon of the Dead (also known as Canyon Del Muerto), and filming began shortly after. The film is a historical epic based on the true story of Ann Axtell Morris, one of the earliest female archaeologists in America. Abigail Lawrie will portray Ann, and Tom Felton will play her husband, Earl Halstead Morris, who worked with her to uncover one of North America’s oldest civilizations.

The details of Val Kilmer’s role are currently unknown, and it’s unclear how significant his character will be in the film. It’s also uncertain how much of his performance was created using artificial intelligence. This isn’t the first time AI has been used to help Kilmer with a role; the company Sonantic previously used AI to recreate his voice, which was affected by throat cancer, for Top Gun: Maverick.

As a fan, I think it’s really special that AI was used to let Val Kilmer finish one last film. Knowing his family was involved makes it clear this wasn’t about taking advantage of his image – it was a respectful way to honor his life’s work and give him a final chance to create.

Historical Precedents in Posthumous Performances

Hollywood has a history of finishing films after an actor passes away. A well-known instance is the movie The Crow, which used a stand-in and visual effects following the death of Brandon Lee. More recently, Paul Walker’s brother and digital face-swapping technology were employed to give his character a proper farewell in Furious 7.

Artificial intelligence is now a hot topic of debate in Hollywood, and it was a major point of discussion during recent labor negotiations and strikes. Some filmmakers, including James Cameron, have expressed strong concerns, even calling the concept of creating completely AI-generated actors deeply unsettling.

How people in the entertainment world and viewers respond to Kilmer’s last performance being completed using AI—rather than traditional methods like stand-ins or visual effects—could show whether this new technology will be embraced or not.

Industry Reactions and Ethical Debate

Whether Canyon of the Dead is a success will depend on how well the story is told, more than on the technology behind it. However, the filmmakers’ choice to use AI to complete Val Kilmer’s performance will definitely spark a broader discussion about the use of these kinds of tools in filmmaking – and if they should be used at all.

As a movie fan, I’ve always thought an actor’s legacy was about the films they left behind – a permanent record of their work. But now, with AI, that feels different. It’s wild to think a performance could actually continue even after an actor is gone. I’m fascinated, but also a little uneasy about it. How we feel about Val Kilmer’s latest role, made possible by AI, might really change how Hollywood thinks about what it means to leave a lasting artistic mark in the future. It feels like we’re on the verge of a big shift in how we remember our favorite stars.

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2026-02-25 00:56