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

This week, Netflix unveiled a new trailer for the highly anticipated Devil May Cry anime, revealing that the late and legendary voice actor Kevin Conroy will posthumously star in the adaptation. This revelation sparked speculation about the use of AI to recreate Conroy’s iconic voice. However, producer Adi Shankar quickly dispelled these rumors in a tweet, confirming that Conroy was recorded prior to his passing in November 2022 and that "no AI was used."

Shankar praised Conroy’s performance, stating, “Mr. Conroy gave it 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 films and TV shows, takes on the role of VP Baines, a new character featured in the opening voiceover of the trailer.

Johnny Yong Bosch, who voices Dante and previously played Nero in the video games, shared his admiration for Conroy, saying, "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 recently acclaimed in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 back in July 2024. Now, fans have another opportunity to experience 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.”

Adi Shankar, who also serves as the showrunner, has an impressive resume, having worked as an executive producer on the 2012 Judge Dredd reboot film Dredd, developed the beloved Castlevania anime, and created other 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.

Studio Mir, a well-established South Korean studio known for their work on popular projects like The Legend of Korra and X-Men ‘97, will be the chief production studio for the series. Devil May Cry is slated for release on Netflix on April 3, 2025.

Generative AI remains a hot topic in the video game and entertainment industries, which have faced significant layoffs in recent years. The technology has drawn criticism from both fans and creators due to ethical and rights issues, as well as AI's challenges in producing content that audiences enjoy.