Val Kilmer’s Daughter Passionately Defends Heat Star’s AI Resurrection
Val Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, is opening up about his AI appearance in As Deep as the Grave. Following his death, the veteran actor’s likeness and voice were recreated using generative AI in the indie film. This act, seen in the trailer, led to mixed reactions among fans, and Kilmer’s daughter has now addressed it.
Mercedes Kilmer addresses AI recreation of Val Kilmer for As Deep as the Grave trailer
In her interview with TODAY, Mercedes Kilmer talked about Val Kilmer’s AI performance in As Deep as the Grave. “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,” she said. “It’s kind of fallen into two camps. 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,” she added.
The 34-year-old expressed that she is a musician and knows that many people are wary of this technology. She also shared how she has only received good responses from people. This includes “older people, people maybe more established in the industry — that see it as a way to protect that actors’ ownership of their IP.”
Mercedes continued, “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.”
Meanwhile, the film’s director and writer, Coerte Voorhees, also opened up about the late actor’s role. He told Variety that the role was “very much designed around” the Top Gun star.”I was looking at a call sheet the other day, and we had him ready to shoot,” Voorhees said.
He added how Kilmer’s family told him how keen the actor was to play the part. Voorhees continued, “It was that support that gave me the confidence to say, ‘Okay, let’s do this.’ Despite the fact some people might call it controversial, this is what Val wanted.”
Source: Comingsoon.net