This week, a new trailer for Netflix's Devil May Cry anime revealed the legendary late voice actor Kevin Conroy will posthumously star in the video game adaptation. This prompted speculation about the use of AI to recreate Conroy's voice. However, producer Adi Shankar confirmed on Twitter that Conroy's performance was recorded before his passing in November 2022, emphasizing that "no AI was used." Shankar lauded Conroy's "amazingly nuanced performance," describing the experience as "both a pleasure and an honor."
Conroy, celebrated for his iconic portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman across numerous animated films and TV shows, voices the new character VP Baines in the Devil May Cry anime. His voiceover can be heard at the beginning of the trailer.
Dante's voice actor, Johnny Yong Bosch (who also voiced Nero in the video games), echoed Shankar's sentiments, 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 performance follows his acclaimed work in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 (July 2024), offering fans another opportunity to appreciate his talent.
Netflix's synopsis describes the series: “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, also the showrunner, is known for his work on Dredd (2012), Castlevania, The Guardians of Justice, Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon, and the upcoming Assassin's Creed adaptation. Studio Mir, a South Korean studio behind The Legend of Korra and X-Men ‘97, is the main production studio. Devil May Cry premieres on Netflix April 3, 2025.
The use of generative AI remains a hotly debated topic in the video game and entertainment industries, both of which have experienced significant layoffs in recent years. AI's ethical implications, rights issues, and struggles to produce consistently enjoyable content have drawn criticism from fans and creators alike.
