This week, Netflix unveiled a new trailer for their upcoming Devil May Cry anime, featuring the late voice actor Kevin Conroy in a posthumous role. Fans were quick to speculate whether artificial intelligence had been used to recreate Conroy's iconic voice, known for his portrayal of Bruce Wayne and Batman in various animated series and films. However, producer Adi Shankar quickly dispelled these rumors via a tweet, confirming that Conroy's recordings were completed before his passing in November 2022 and that "no AI was used."
Shankar praised Conroy's performance, describing it as "amazingly nuanced" and expressed his honor in working with the legendary voice actor. In the anime, Conroy voices a new character, VP Baines, who can be heard in the trailer's opening voiceover.
Johnny Yong Bosch, known for voicing Dante in the Devil May Cry video games, also shared his experience working with Conroy, emphasizing the honor of collaborating with a true legend. He noted that their recording sessions occurred several years ago, highlighting the lengthy process of animation production.
Conroy's recent posthumous work in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 received acclaim in July 2024, and his role in Devil May Cry offers fans another opportunity to appreciate his talent following his passing at age 66.
The Devil May Cry series, set to premiere on Netflix on April 3, 2025, centers on Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, caught in the midst of sinister forces attempting to open a portal between the human and demon realms. Shankar, who also serves as the showrunner, is recognized for his contributions to projects like the Judge Dredd reboot, Castlevania, and series such as The Guardians of Justice and Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon. He is also set to executive produce an Assassin’s Creed adaptation.
The use of generative AI in the entertainment and video game industries remains a contentious topic, with both sectors experiencing significant layoffs. The technology has faced criticism over ethical and rights issues, as well as its inability to consistently produce content that resonates with audiences.
