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

This week, a new trailer for Netflix's Devil May Cry anime revealed that the legendary late voice actor Kevin Conroy will posthumously star in the video game adaptation. This revelation sparked speculation about whether AI had been used to recreate Conroy's iconic voice. However, the anime's producer, Adi Shankar, quickly dispelled these rumors.

In a tweet, Shankar confirmed that Conroy was recorded before his passing in November 2022, and emphasized that "no AI was used." He praised Conroy's performance, stating, "Mr. Conroy gave an amazingly nuanced performance. It was both a pleasure and an honor to work with him."

Conroy, celebrated as the longtime voice of Bruce Wayne and Batman in numerous animated films and TV shows, takes on the role of VP Baines, a new character featured in the trailer. Fans can hear his voiceover at the beginning of the trailer, which you can watch below.

Dante's voice actor, Johnny Yong Bosch, who also played Nero in the video games, expressed his honor in working with Conroy. He stated, "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 previously acclaimed in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 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.

The official synopsis from Netflix outlines the plot: "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, is renowned for his work on the 2012 Judge Dredd reboot film Dredd, the beloved Castlevania anime, and Netflix series like The Guardians of Justice and Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon. He is also set to executive produce an adaptation of Assassin’s Creed.

Devil May Cry is being produced by Studio Mir, a prominent South Korean studio known for their work on The Legend of Korra and X-Men '97. The series is set to premiere on Netflix on April 3, 2025.

The topic of generative AI has been a significant point of discussion within the video game and entertainment industries, which have faced substantial layoffs in recent years. Generative AI has received criticism from fans and creators due to ethical and rights concerns, as well as its challenges in producing content that resonates with audiences.