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

This week, a newly released trailer for Netflix's Devil May Cry anime unveiled that the legendary late voice actor Kevin Conroy will posthumously star in the video game adaptation. This revelation sparked curiosity among fans about whether AI technology was used to recreate Conroy's iconic voice. However, the anime's producer, Adi Shankar, quickly dispelled these rumors via a tweet, confirming that Conroy was recorded prior to his passing in November 2022, and emphasized, "no AI used."

Shankar further 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, renowned and celebrated for voicing Bruce Wayne and Batman in numerous animated films and TV shows over the years, takes on the role of VP Baines in the Devil May Cry anime. Fans can hear his voiceover at the beginning of the trailer.

Johnny Yong Bosch, who voices Dante and played Nero in the video games, shared his sentiments on working with 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 work continues to be celebrated, with fans recently praising his performance in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 back in July 2024. Now, they have another opportunity to appreciate his talents following his untimely 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 for the series, is known for his work as the executive producer on the 2012 Judge Dredd reboot film Dredd, developing the beloved Castlevania anime, and creating other 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 well-established South Korean studio known for their work on popular projects like The Legend of Korra and X-Men ‘97, will serve as the chief production studio for this new 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 experienced significant layoffs in recent years. Generative AI has faced criticism from both fans and creators over ethical concerns, rights issues, and its challenges in creating content that audiences genuinely enjoy.