A year after the actor’s death, a generative AI version of Val Kilmer will co-star in an independent film, in one of the boldest uses yet of artificial intelligence in moviemaking.

First Line Films announced Wednesday that Kilmer has posthumously joined the cast of a film titled As Deep as the Grave. The producers said that, before his death, Kilmer had signed on to perform in the movie but was unable to because of his health.

Kilmer’s estate gave permission for his digital replication, and is being compensated for it. Mercedes Kilmer, the actor’s daughter, said the role resonated with her father.

“He always looked at emerging technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling,” she said in a statement. “This spirit is something that we are all honoring within this specific film, of which he was an integral part.”

Kilmer died last April at the age of 65 from pneumonia. In 2014, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer and required two tracheotomies. After losing his natural speaking voice, Kilmer turned to an AI software company to digital recreate his voice. In his final screen performance, 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, Kilmer’s voice was digitally altered.

The use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking has been one of the most contentious topics in Hollywood in recent years. Lately, some have attempted to make greater inroads for AI-generated performance. The company Xicoia last year launched the AI-concocted persona “Tilly Norwood”; earlier this month, it debuted a music video.

SAG-AFTRA, the actors union, has condemned Xicoia’s “AI actor,” but it has regulations around other uses of the technology. Its rules stipulate that consent from performers must be given for the use of digital replicas. “Consent not obtained before death must be obtained from an authorized representative or the union,” reads its guidance.

Representatives for SAG-AFTRA didn’t immediately respond to questions Wednesday.

As Deep as the Grave, formerly titled Canyon of the Dead, was shot several years ago but has been stuck in postproduction. It’s based on a true story about the archaeologists Ann and Earl Morris, whose Arizona excavations uncovered Native American history. The AI version of Kilmer plays Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist.

The cast includes Abigail Lawrie, Tom Felton, Wes Studi, and Abigail Breslin.

Coerte Voorhees, the film’s writer and director, said Kilmer, who identified as part Native American, was drawn to the project five years ago. Producers are seeking distribution with the hope of releasing the film this year.

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“It was very unfortunate that his health at the time prevented him from playing this role which spoke to him spiritually and culturally,” Voorhees said. “We are honored to collaborate with his daughter Mercedes, who brings her own filmmaking experience, to bring this character to life in the way that we had all originally imagined it.”

The film, which is named after a last-ditch pass sometimes made in American football, centres around Gosling’s character Ryland Grace, a science teacher who through a number of extraordinary circumstances, finds himself on a spaceship with no recollection of how he got there, tasked with saving the world from sun-eating bacteria.

A judge told Dillon Day he was reluctantly adjourning his sentencing hearing to allow time for a Probation Service report to be carried out into his offending behaviour.

The 22-year-old had pleaded guilty to a catalogue of motoring offences at an earlier hearing, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Joel Wooten, representing Day, urged the judge to give his client a chance to have a pre-sentence report compiled before any decision of his future was made.

Recorder Peter Reid told the Middlesbrough man that he faces prison for the appalling standard of his driving.

He said: “With great reluctance, I will adjourn for a pre-sentence report mainly because you are still immature and clearly have problems of your own.

“In my judgement the only possible sentence in this case is one of immediate custody for this utterly appalling driving.”

Day, of Cheddar Close, Middlesbrough, had pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance, driving whilst disqualified and failing to surrender to custody following his behaviour on November 28 last year.

He will return to court on April 13 to be sentenced.

An independent committee investigating the cause of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades on Thursday heard that a series of failures contributed to the blaze’s burning seven buildings and killing 168 people as it opened its first hearing on the evidence.

Former residents and relatives of the dead have been waiting for answers since November 2025, when the fire shattered the close-knit community of Wang Fuk Court, which housed thousands of people in the suburban district of Tai Po.

In his opening remarks, the committee’s lead lawyer Victor Dawes said the fire is suspected to have started at a platform in a light well outside two low-level units, noting that cigarette butts were found there and on scaffolding.

Dawes said the evidence showed that multiple factors came together to produce the disaster, ranging from fire alarms and hose systems being shut off to the use of non-fire-retardant scaffolding netting and covering windows with foam boards.

“On the day of the fire, nearly all fire safety systems meant to protect lives failed because of human factors,” he said.

The fire broke out on Nov. 26 and quickly engulfed seven of the apartment complex’s eight buildings. A number of people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, fraud or corruption.

The judge-led committee, set up in December, will also examine if systemic problems such as bid-rigging existed in large-scale building maintenance and renovation works. The government said at the time that the committee’s work was expected to take nine months.

After listening to the opening remarks from lawyers, the committee will hear oral evidence from witnesses, including Wang Fuk Court residents. Various government departments are involved in hearings.

Before the hearing, Phyllis Lo, who lost her mother in the fire, said she hopes to listen to the findings from different sides to get a comprehensive understanding of the incident.

Another resident Seneca Lee said she wanted to know what caused the fire spread through so many buildings and killed so many people.

Many former occupants of the apartment complex are living in temporary housing scattered across the city. Hong Kong officials last month proposed to buy back the homeownership rights from the fire victims, citing results from a survey of residents’ preferences. But that dashed the hopes of some who want to rebuild their homes at the site.

Hong Kong leader John Lee on Tuesday said the government is working on plans to allow the affected residents to visit their apartments and recover some of their belongings in April.

Durham County Council cabinet members backed plans to increase the coverage of Article 4 Directions for Homes in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) beyond Durham City and its surrounding areas to cover the whole county.

It means all new HMOs, regardless of size, will require planning permission from August 2026. 

Currently, houses can be converted into small HMOs—accommodating between three and six residents—without planning permission. Only properties housing more than six residents require planning consent under existing rules.

The move comes after residents warned that the increase in HMOs is negatively impacting the character of communities. 

Nicola Lyons, cabinet member for communities and civic resilience, said: “The policy will benefit both existing residents and future occupiers by protecting residential amenity and ensuring appropriate standards of accommodation.”

The number of HMOs across County Durham communities has steadily increased in recent years after predominantly being utilised for student homes in and around Durham city. 

Durham County Council said the shared housing can be an affordable option for residents, but can harm community cohesion by introducing transient residents and the loss of family housing. 

“An over-concentration within a locality can have a negative impact on the residential amenities and change the overall character of an area,” said Councillor Cathy Hunt. 

Other negative impacts include the loss of family housing and community cohesion due to the presence of a more transient population.

The cabinet member for children and young people’s services added: “It’s important we use our planning powers to maintain mixed and balanced communities and drive up standards of accommodation.”

A planning policy is also being developed to ensure clear guidance when determining HMO applications. 

Interim changes detail how applications should not lead to three or more of the 10 nearest properties being HMOs. It should also not result in the ‘sandwiching’ of a residential property between two HMO properties or an HMO and a property that is not a home.

The policy also sets detailed requirements to ensure the HMO accommodation is of a high standard for those living there and that the living conditions of neighbouring residents are protected.

A public consultation on the interim HMO policy will be held from March 25 to May 5, where residents can give their views.

A gardening expert advised on which flowers you must plant now in spring, with a focus on one that come into bloom in summer and can last for months as cut flowers

As the weather brightens up and we’re heading into spring, you may fancy donning your gardening gloves and reviving your outdoor area. Gardening guru Ish, who goes by @gardening.with.ish online, could have the perfect recommendation for you.

Describing the blooms as “tall, hardy, and low-maintenance,” Ish suggested planting Nigellas at this time of year. “Not only do these work as amazing pollinators, but they will grow in time for wedding bouquets or flower arrangements,” he said enthusiastically in his caption.

Ish also emphasised that “Nigellas can offer bursts of purple flowers all throughout the summer,” enhancing their visual charm and why they’re perfect for beginners.

These plants can be “sown directly in the soil,” or if you’re short on space, you can “start them off in a tray” instead.

He noted that Nigellas flower from “June all the way to September,” and also “last for about 10 days in a vase, so if you’re keen to get some fresh looking flowers, these might work for you”.

Ish revealed his preference for beginning them in a tray before moving them outdoors because it’s “very easy to thin them out”.

He intended to “lightly sprinkle in the seeds,” followed by a “covering and a good water”.

Though Ish warned they must be “about 30cm apart” as they can “really bush out quite a bit”. Beginning them in a tray enables him to “spread them out” when relocating them into the ground.

After sowing the seeds in the tray, he applied a “light dusting of compost over the top” without compacting it, reassuring viewers it would “soon take care of itself”.

He recommended using the seed packet “as a makeshift label” to monitor what’s growing in each section.

Ish explained that when transplanting your Nigellas outside, they flourish in and love “well-drained soil” and enjoy “plenty of sun”. He emphasised they need approximately 20 to 30cm of space to “bush out”.

“When they start to flower, take care of dead-heading as well because the more you take care of it, you’ll actually grow more flowers,” he advised.

Additionally, the plant will “continue providing them [flowers]” regularly until the end of August.

Are you planning on adding Nigellas to your garden, or have you already started? Drop us a comment below…

A total of 389 businesses across sectors including retail, social care and hospitality were found to have underpaid staff – and have now been ordered to repay workers.

They have also been hit with £12.6 million in fines.

The latest enforcement action, published by the UK Government, is part of a renewed push to crack down on employers who underpay staff.

Officials say:

• Workers were paid less than they were legally entitled to
• Employers must now repay wages in full
• Financial penalties have also been issued

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said it was unfair for companies to gain an advantage by breaking the rules.

This is the first “naming round” since ministers pledged to publish offending employers more regularly.

It also comes just weeks before a new enforcement body – the Fair Work Agency – launches to strengthen workers’ rights.

Employment rights minister Kate Dearden said: “Nobody should finish a week’s work and find they’ve been paid less than they’ve earned.”

Gov.uk has information on who is entitled to the minimum wage.

You can use the minimum wage calculator to check whether the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage is being paid.

Contact Acas if you’re not getting the National Minimum Wage and think you should be.

Recommended reading:

Minimum Wage is rising again next month

The announcement comes ahead of a minimum wage increase from April 2026, following recommendations from the Low Pay Commission.

New rates will be:

• £12.71 per hour for those aged 21+
• £10.85 for 18–20-year-olds
• £8.00 for under-18s and apprentices

The rise means a full-time worker on the National Living Wage could earn around £977 more per year.

Steven Gerrard says he ‘wishes’ Liverpool had signed Declan Rice ahead of Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side won the race to sign Rice in the summer of 2023 with the midfielder joining from West Ham in a £105 million deal.

Liverpool, meanwhile, were about to embark on their final season under Jurgen Klopp, who left Anfield the following summer.

Rice has established himself as a key figure in Arsenal’s midfield and is on track for a successful campaign as the Gunners are still in all four competitions.

The England international scored a superb goal in Arsenal’s 2-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and former Liverpool captain Gerrard feels the 27-year-old has now cemented his place as one of the world’s elite midfielders.

‘He’s going from strength to strength,’ Gerrard told TNT Sports.

‘I think he’s one of the best in the world. I think he has become one of the best in the world.

‘It was a fantastic move for him. I wish we [Liverpool] signed him here, actually.

‘West Ham did a great job under David Moyes, I think David Moyes has really schooled him in how to play the position tactically.

‘His confidence from playing well for England and being around that group of players, he’s just gone to the next level now at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.

‘Fantastic coaching from him and he’s up there now in the shout to be one of the world’s best in that position and in that role.’

Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman added: ‘I think when you think of his role and you look around Europe, you have Pedri who is beautiful, Vitinha is great, but he way he [Rice] plays I’d certainly say he’s the best because he’s a different type of player to them.

‘But he’s so effective, last year he was amazing and he’s stepped up again this year.’

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If you’re struggling with the latest Strands puzzle, then you’ve come to the right place.

Strands is a daily word game available from the site that brought you Wordle and Connections.

Each day there’s a different theme, and the aim is to find all of the words connected to the theme contained within a grid of letters.

The theme words cover the entire board, and none overlap. Likewise, there’s also a spangram that stretches from one side of the board to the other. The spangram describes the board’s theme. Get it early and you should have an easier time finding the words in the grid.

Keep on reading for the latest set of hints for the March 19 Strands, which is titled ‘Bring a Plate’.

And don’t worry, because we won’t reveal the answers, or give you the full list of letters from each word.

SPANGRAM HINTS

Today’s Spangram is made up of 7 letters.

It begins with the letter ‘P’

It’s a popular saying that is believed to date back to the 16th Century.

THEME WORD HINTS

Here are the first two letters for each theme word in the March 19 Strands puzzle.

1. AP

2. BE

3. CA

4. DE

5. VE