Fans of the late Val Kilmer may be disappointed, as opportunities for his recognition at the Oscars have ended. According to a Friday report from Reuters, performances and scripts produced by artificial intelligence will not qualify for Academy Awards. These guidelines from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences apply starting with the ceremony in March 2027.
Under the revised policies, directors and producers may incorporate AI technologies in their work, but artificial performers are barred from receiving accolades. Similarly, scripts generated by AI do not qualify and require human authorship. The Academy reserves the right to seek additional details from entries to verify their human origin.
A clear instance of such a performance involves Kilmer's entirely AI-created role in the forthcoming independent film As Deep as the Grave. Originally selected for the project, Kilmer withdrew because of health issues. (He passed away in April 2025.) Despite not filming any scenes, Variety notes that his digital likeness will feature prominently in the production.
Coerte Voorhees, who wrote and directed the film, explained that Kilmer's family emphasized the project's significance and the actor's desire to participate. 'He viewed it as a vital narrative he wished to associate with his legacy,' Voorhees added. 'Their encouragement convinced me to proceed, even knowing it could spark debate, because it aligned with his intentions.'
Another development stirring concern in the film sector involves a tool from ByteDance that produced a striking result. With just a two-sentence input into Seedance 2.0, the system created a realistic 15-second video depicting Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in a rooftop brawl.
The footage quickly spread online, prompting widespread anxiety in Hollywood and drawing attention from policymakers in Washington. In response, ByteDance has reportedly halted the tool's deployment, as the entertainment world prepares for an era where brief descriptions might suffice to create entire movies.