AI-generated voice, akin to that of Val Kilmer, evokes human-like emotion in actor during initial listening experience
Val Kilmer Returns to Top Gun with AI-Recreated Voice
In a groundbreaking move, actor Val Kilmer has reprised his iconic role as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky in the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick, using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to recreate his speaking voice. Kilmer partnered with British AI company Sonantic, providing them with hours of archival audio recordings from before his cancer treatment.
The AI-recreated voice left both Kilmer and the team emotional, with the actor expressing gratitude to the Sonantic team upon hearing it. Sonantic used over 40 different voice models from Kilmer's career to recreate his unique tone, rhythm, and emotional inflections, enabling Kilmer to say a brief line in the film with a digitally reconstructed version of his voice.
The film’s script incorporated elements of Kilmer’s real-life condition: his character Iceman also has cancer and communicates via typing, realistically reflecting Kilmer’s speech challenges due to his tracheotomy. AI was thus crucial not only in restoring Kilmer’s voice for that one line but also in enabling a more authentic portrayal of his character’s current state.
John Flynn, Sonantic's CTO and co-founder, described the voice recreation as a 'Photoshop for voice', noting that even Kilmer's son, Jack, found the voice model powerful.
Val Kilmer, known for his role in the 1986 original Top Gun, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015. His treatment required a tracheotomy, making communication difficult for him. Kilmer has stated that the AI-recreated voice has helped him communicate more effectively.
Top Gun: Maverick is set to hit cinemas on 25 May.
For those affected by cancer, Macmillan's Cancer Support Line is available at 0808 808 00 00, 8am-8pm seven days a week.
[1] Val Kilmer's voice recreated using AI for Top Gun: Maverick [2] Val Kilmer's AI-generated voice in Top Gun: Maverick [3] Val Kilmer's voice recreated for Top Gun: Maverick [4] Val Kilmer's voice recreated using AI for Top Gun: Maverick [5] Val Kilmer's voice recreated using AI for Top Gun: Maverick
- The AI-recreated voice of Val Kilmer, who played Tom "Iceman" Kazansky in the original Top Gun, will be heard once again in the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick.
- In Top Gun: Maverick, entertainment and technology converge as Val Kilmer's voice, recreated using AI, delivers a significant line.
