Val Kilmer’s final on-screen appearance in 2021’s Top Gun: Maverick four years before his death proved to be an emotional moment for both audiences and co-star Tom Cruise, who was brought to tears during their reunion.
The Hollywood star died at the age of 65, his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, revealed on Wednesday.
Kilmer, best known for his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the original Top Gun, had largely stepped away from acting following a prolonged battle with throat cancer.
The disease, which he privately fought for two years before publicly confirming his diagnosis in 2017, led to him using a tracheotomy tube, with his voice sounding “something between a squeak and a voiceless roar”.
To bring Iceman back to life for Top Gun: Maverick, filmmakers turned to artificial intelligence.
Kilmer’s voice in the film was recreated using AI technology that analysed hours of archival recordings to generate a version of his signature voice.
His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, praised the achievement, saying: “They were able to dub him with his own voice, which is amazing.
“It’s such a technical feat, being able to engineer his voice that way, that it’s an extension of the technical feat of the film.”
Kilmer’s return to the role was one of the most poignant moments in the movie. His character, now a revered admiral, communicates via a computer due to an unspecified illness.
In a particularly moving exchange, Iceman types the words: “The Navy needs you, Maverick. They (the pilots) need you.”
Reflecting on their on-screen reunion, Cruise shared how deeply affected he was by Kilmer’s performance.
Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2023, he admitted: “I just want to say that was pretty emotional. I’ve known Val for decades. For him to come back and play that character… he’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again. You’re looking at Iceman.”
Even for a Hollywood veteran like Cruise, the moment proved overwhelming. “I was crying. I got emotional. He’s such a brilliant actor, and I love his work.”
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Kilmer’s voice restoration was made possible through his partnership with Sonantic, an AI-powered voice synthesis company.
In 2021, seven years after his cancer treatment, he revealed his excitement over the technology.
Kilmer said in a statement then: “I'm grateful to the entire team at Sonantic who masterfully restored my voice in a way I've never imagined possible.
“As human beings, the ability to communicate is the core of our existence and the side effects from throat cancer have made it difficult for others to understand me.
“The chance to narrate my story, in a voice that feels authentic and familiar, is an incredibly special gift.”
Previously, Top Gun: Maverick producer Jerry Bruckheimer said Cruise insisted that Kilmer be a part of the long-awaited sequel to the iconic 1986 aviation film.
Bruckheimer told People in 2021: “We all wanted him (Kilmer), but Tom was really adamant that if he’s going to make another Top Gun, Val had to be in it.
