This week, Netflix unveiled a new trailer for their upcoming Devil May Cry anime, revealing that the legendary late voice actor Kevin Conroy will posthumously star in the adaptation. Fans speculated about the use of AI to recreate Conroy's iconic voice, but producer Adi Shankar quickly dispelled these rumors. In a tweet, Shankar confirmed that Conroy recorded his role before his passing in November 2022, emphasizing, "no AI used."
Shankar praised Conroy's performance, noting, "Mr. Conroy gave an amazingly nuanced performance. It was both a pleasure and an honor to work with him." Conroy, celebrated for his long-standing role as Bruce Wayne and Batman in numerous animated series and films, lends his voice to the character VP Baines in the Devil May Cry anime. You can hear his voiceover at the beginning of the trailer.
Johnny Yong Bosch, who voices Dante and previously played Nero in the video games, expressed his admiration for working with Conroy, stating, "It was an honor to work alongside Kevin Conroy for the upcoming DMC series. A true legend. Batman: The Animated Series redefined cartoons for me. For those wondering, our recording sessions took place a few years ago — animation takes quite some time to complete."
Conroy's posthumous voice work was previously acclaimed in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 back in July 2024. Now, fans have another opportunity to appreciate his talent following his passing at the age of 66, two-and-a-half years ago.
According to Netflix's official synopsis, "Sinister forces are at play to open the portal between the human and demon realms. In the middle of it all is Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, unaware that the fate of both worlds hangs around his neck."
Shankar, who also serves as the showrunner for the series, is renowned for his work on projects like the 2012 Judge Dredd reboot film Dredd, the beloved Castlevania anime, and Netflix series such as The Guardians of Justice and Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon. He is also set to executive produce an adaptation of Assassin’s Creed.
The animation for the series is being handled by Studio Mir, a reputable South Korean studio known for their work on popular projects like The Legend of Korra and X-Men ‘97. Devil May Cry is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on April 3, 2025.
In the broader context, generative AI remains a controversial topic within the video game and entertainment industries, which have faced significant layoffs in recent years. The technology has been criticized by fans and creators alike for ethical and rights issues, as well as its challenges in producing content that audiences truly enjoy.
