Val Kilmer got emotional after hearing his AI voice for 'Top Gun: Maverick' following loss of speech
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Val Kilmer had an emotional moment when he first heard his artificial intelligence (AI) voice, which was featured in the 2022 movie 'Top Gun: Maverick', years before his death at 65.
The actor lost his voice after undergoing a tracheotomy following a diagnosis of throat cancer in 2014. Kilmer died from pneumonia on Tuesday, April 1, his daughter, Mercedes, confirmed to the New York Times.
Val Kilmer thanked Sonantic for giving him a chance to tell his story using AI voice
Val Kilmer underwent a tracheotomy as it was necessary to help him breathe. However, it bypassed his vocal cords, preventing them from vibrating.
Due to this, he lost his natural voice and was later forced to rely on a voice box, according to LaDbible.
However, in 2021, the 'Heat' star experienced an emotional moment when he heard his voice once again, which was recreated through AI.
British AI company Sonantic utilized hours of earlier recordings from his films and interviews and produced an accurate digital replica, per the outlet.
The actor's AI voice was used in 'Top Gun: Maverick', allowing his character Iceman to speak in the movie, and thus, making an emotional return to the big screen.
An emotional Kilmer stated at the time, "I’m grateful to the entire team at Sonantic who masterfully restored my voice in a way I’ve never imagined possible."
He added, "As human beings, the ability to communicate is the core of our existence, and the effects from throat cancer have made it difficult for others to understand me."
"The chance to tell my story, in a voice that feels authentic and familiar, is an incredibly special gift," Kilmer expressed.
John Flynn, Sonantic's CTO and co-founder, said, per LaDbible, "I remember talking to Jack [Val’s son] after presenting the voice model, and him telling us how powerful it was, like it was the first time he’d heard his dad’s voice in years, so he was quite moved."
Tom Cruise insisted Val Kilmer reprise Iceman's role despite losing his voice
Tom Cruise made it clear that when it came to casting for the 2022 sequel of 'Top Gun', Val Kilmer had to be a part of the narrative.
Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer told People in 2021 that Cruise wanted Kilmer to return as a cool and cocky pilot once more.
Bruckheimer shared, "He said, 'We have to have Val, we have to have him back. We have to have him in the film.'"
"And he was the driving force. We all wanted him, but Tom was really adamant that if he's going to make another Top Gun, Val had to be in it," the producer added.
About Kilmer, Bruckheimer said, "He's such a fine actor, and he's such a good individual. We had such a good time on the first one and wanted to bring some of the gang back together again."
He added that the 'Top Gun' reunion was "very emotional" for Kilmer and Cruise. "It was a really emotional experience for all of us," Bruckheimer said. "It was a long time getting there, but we did."
Interestingly, Kilmer and Cruise shared a heated relationship during the filming of the original 'Top Gun', according to FandomWire.
After the release of the film, there were rumors that their feud might not be just limited to the silver screen but might’ve translated into the real world.
However, Kilmer cleared the air in 2022 and said he has nothing but nice things to say about his co-star.
The 'Batman Forever' actor told the Los Angeles Times, "Tom and I get along really well. We giggled like little kids in school between takes. I consider him a real friend. We shared intimate stories and challenges about our different lifestyles!"
