
Actor Jackson Rathbone and other entertainment industry figures were disgruntled by Val Kilmer’s AI performance. Kilmer, a widely beloved actor of Top Gun fame, passed away from pneumonia in 2025. The issue of using his likeness for AI raises concerns about consent, with some critics fearing what the precedent sets for future productions.
Rathbone posted on X, tagging SAG-AFTRA about the concerning AI-generated performance of Kilmer. He reminded the guild about the restrictions on AI usage, as agreed upon after a series of strikes. The deceased actor’s daughter, Mercedes, consented to the use of her father’s image for reproduction.