Kevin Conroy Recorded for Devil May Cry Anime Before His Death, No AI Used

This week, excitement surged through the fanbase as Netflix unveiled a new trailer for its upcoming Devil May Cry anime, featuring the late, legendary voice actor Kevin Conroy in a posthumous role. Speculation quickly arose about the use of AI to recreate Conroy’s iconic voice, known for his long-standing portrayal of Bruce Wayne and Batman in various animated series and films. However, the anime's producer, Adi Shankar, swiftly dispelled these rumors via a tweet, confirming that Conroy had recorded his lines before his passing in November 2022, and no AI was utilized in the process.

Shankar expressed his admiration for Conroy’s work, stating, “Mr. Conroy gave it an amazingly nuanced performance. It was both a pleasure and an honor to work with him.” In the series, Conroy lends his voice to a new character, VP Baines, whose voice can be heard at the beginning of the trailer.

Johnny Yong Bosch, the voice of Dante in the Devil May Cry anime and known for playing Nero in the video games, also shared his experience working with Conroy. He remarked, "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 was previously celebrated in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 in July 2024. Now, fans have another opportunity to appreciate his talent following his passing at the age of 66, two-and-a-half years ago.

The official synopsis from Netflix sets the stage for 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.”

Adi Shankar, who also serves as the showrunner, brings a wealth of experience to the project. Known for his roles as executive producer on the 2012 Judge Dredd reboot film Dredd, developing the beloved Castlevania anime, and creating 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.

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

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

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