"Devil May Cry Anime Producer Confirms: Kevin Conroy Recorded Before His Death, No AI Used"

This week, Netflix unveiled a new trailer for their upcoming Devil May Cry anime, revealing that the late, legendary voice actor Kevin Conroy will posthumously lend his voice to the project. Amid speculation about the use of AI to replicate Conroy's iconic voice, producer Adi Shankar took to social media to clarify the situation. In a tweet, Shankar confirmed that Conroy's recordings were completed prior to his passing in November 2022, and no AI was used in the process. Shankar praised Conroy's performance as "amazingly nuanced," emphasizing the honor and pleasure of working with him.

Conroy, celebrated for his role as Bruce Wayne and Batman in numerous animated series and films, takes on the role of VP Baines in the Devil May Cry anime. His voice can be heard in the trailer's opening, showcasing his talent one more time. Johnny Yong Bosch, the voice of Dante in the series and known for playing Nero in the video games, shared his experience working with Conroy, calling it an honor and reminiscing about the impact of Batman: The Animated Series on his view of animation.

Conroy's posthumous work was previously highlighted in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 in July 2024, and now, fans have another opportunity to hear his voice in the Devil May Cry series, following his passing at the age of 66.

The Devil May Cry anime centers around Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, caught in a sinister plot to open a portal between the human and demon realms. Shankar, who also serves as the showrunner, has a notable track record, having worked on projects like the 2012 Judge Dredd reboot, Castlevania, The Guardians of Justice, and Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon. He is also set to executive produce an adaptation of Assassin’s Creed.

Kevin Conroy in 2021. Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images.

Studio Mir, renowned for their work on The Legend of Korra and X-Men '97, will be the primary production studio for the series. Devil May Cry is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on April 3, 2025.

The topic of generative AI remains a hot button issue within the entertainment and video game industries, which have faced significant layoffs recently. AI has been met with criticism from fans and creators alike over ethical concerns, rights issues, and its ability to produce content that resonates with audiences.