Kilmer passed away in 2025 after battling throat cancer. Apparently his character will feature in over an hour of the movie.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/val-kilmer-ai-generated-new-movie-rcna264195
this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2026
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A Boring Dystopia
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He was going to play the role before he died, and they decided to use AI to recreate his likeness instead of recasting.
So not quite as ghoulish as you might think.
Did anyone ask him if he thought this was ok?
From what I read, Kilmer gave the filmmakers the right to use his likeness for this purpose.
How does that make it not ghoulish?
Not quite as ghoulish. Say 99% as ghoulish.
Exactly. I'm not saying it's fine, just not as terrible as you might originally think.
I’m not sure if that’s a distinction worth making in this case
I'm not sure if this was a comment worth making, yet here you are.
I suppose time will tell ;)
The victim had a choice.
When the Lich King gives you a choice, its ethical necromancy.
So just holding him to his contractual obligations after death then?
That's not making it any better.
Will his estate see the amount he was contractually obligated for revenue, etc?
I'd imagine so, yes.
In that context, that's more ghoulish.