This week, Netflix unveiled a new trailer for their upcoming Devil May Cry anime, revealing that the late voice acting legend Kevin Conroy will posthumously star in the series. This announcement sparked speculation about the use of AI to recreate Conroy's voice, but producer Adi Shankar quickly dispelled those rumors via a tweet, stating that Conroy had recorded his part before his passing in November 2022 and that "no AI was used."
Shankar praised Conroy's performance as "amazingly nuanced" and expressed the honor of working with him. Conroy, renowned for voicing Bruce Wayne and Batman across numerous animated projects, takes on the role of VP Baines in the anime, a new character introduced through voiceover at the trailer's beginning.
Johnny Yong Bosch, who voices Dante and previously played Nero in the video games, shared his admiration for working with Conroy. He noted that their recording sessions occurred years ago, highlighting the lengthy process of animation production. Bosch also acknowledged the impact of Batman: The Animated Series on his perception of cartoons.
Conroy's posthumous contribution was previously celebrated in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 in July 2024, and now fans have another opportunity to hear his work following his death at the age of 66 in 2022.
The Devil May Cry series follows Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, as he navigates a plot involving sinister forces attempting to open a portal between human and demon realms. Shankar, who also serves as the showrunner, brings a wealth of experience from projects like the Judge Dredd reboot, Castlevania, The Guardians of Justice, and Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon. He is also set to executive produce an Assassin’s Creed adaptation.
Studio Mir, known for their work on The Legend of Korra and X-Men '97, will handle the production of the series. Devil May Cry is slated for release on Netflix on April 3, 2025.
The entertainment and video game industries, currently grappling with significant layoffs, are also navigating the contentious topic of generative AI. This technology has faced criticism from fans and creators alike over ethical concerns, rights issues, and the challenge of producing content that audiences find engaging.
