Kevin Conroy Recorded for Devil May Cry Anime Before Passing, No AI Involved

This week, Netflix unveiled a new trailer for their highly anticipated Devil May Cry anime, confirming that the legendary late voice actor Kevin Conroy will posthumously star in the series. This revelation sparked curiosity among fans about whether AI technology was utilized to recreate Conroy's iconic voice. However, producer Adi Shankar quickly dispelled these rumors via a tweet, stating that Conroy had recorded his lines before his passing in November 2022 and that "no AI was used."

Shankar praised Conroy's performance, describing it as "amazingly nuanced" and expressing the honor and pleasure of working with him. Conroy, renowned for his long-standing role as Bruce Wayne and Batman across numerous animated films and TV series, voices the new character VP Baines in the anime. His voice can be heard in the trailer's opening sequence.

Johnny Yong Bosch, who voices Dante in the series and previously played Nero in the video games, shared his experience working with Conroy, calling it an honor and acknowledging Conroy's legendary status. Bosch noted that their recording sessions occurred several years ago, highlighting the lengthy process of animation production.

Conroy's posthumous voice work was previously celebrated in July 2024 for his role in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3. Now, fans have another opportunity to appreciate his talent following his untimely death at the age of 66, two-and-a-half years ago.

Netflix's official synopsis describes the series, stating, "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, brings his experience from notable projects like the 2012 Judge Dredd reboot film Dredd, the acclaimed Castlevania anime, and Netflix series such as The Guardians of Justice and Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon. Shankar is also set to executive produce an adaptation of Assassin’s Creed.

Studio Mir, a renowned South Korean studio with a portfolio that includes The Legend of Korra and X-Men ‘97, will handle the chief production of the series. Devil May Cry is slated for release on Netflix on April 3, 2025.

The topic of generative AI remains a hot button issue in the video game and entertainment sectors, which have faced significant layoffs recently. Generative AI has faced criticism from both fans and creators due to ethical concerns, rights issues, and its challenges in producing content that resonates with audiences.