Val Kilmer has taken over the voice duty for K.I.T.T. from “Arrested Development” actor Will Arnett for the updated “Knight Rider” television series remake.

Why? One may ask! NBC was happy with Arnett’s performance, producers of the show thought his voice was perfect for the role of the high-tech, talking car, test audiences loved his tones.

Well, it seems that it has nothing to do with his voice or acting ability, but with a contractual conflict of interests. Will Arnett has been an official spokesperson for General Motors and GMC trucks for over ten years, according to network statement to the daily trade paper Variety.

In the TV series Arnett would be voicing a suped-up Ford Mustang. GM could get over that little discomfort if it wasn’t for the fact that Ford plans on using the series to really push its automobiles in future ads, using the voice of K.I.T.T. as a major selling point. To that GM said no and Arnett, in order to honor his existing relationship with the Detroit automaker, was asked to back out of the making of “Knight Rider.” He has complied with GM’s wishes thus prompting NBC to scramble to find a worthy replacement with the kind of voice fans will appreciate…..and up pops Val Kilmer.

“I was very excited at the prospect of playing the part of KITT in the new ‘Knight Rider’ movie,” Arnett said. “However, because of a long relationship with General Motors as the voice of GMC Trucks, I had to respectfully withdraw from the project.”

Kilmer is no stranger to voice over work. Some of his movie “Batman Forever,” was done using voice overs when Kilmer was speaking through that dark bat mask, he was the talking sword for “George and the Dragon,” Kilmer voiced Moses in the animated hit film “The Prince of Egypt,” and did most of the singing for the songs done in the bio-pic “The Doors.” Kilmer has also done his own share of voice commercial work over his 25 year career.

Although much of the shooting for the show using Arnett’s voice has been completed, NBC has indicated it shouldn’t be a problem for them to simply lay Kilmer’s voice over the existing footage, however, some frames will have to be re-done.

The “Knight Rider” series starring Justin Bruening is set to premiere Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 9/8C on NBC.