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 led some fans to speculate whether AI had been used to recreate Conroy's iconic voice. However, the anime's producer has confirmed that this is not the case.

In a tweet, producer Adi Shankar clarified that Conroy was recorded before his passing in November 2022, and emphasized, "no AI used." Shankar 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 for his long-standing role as the voice of Bruce Wayne and Batman in numerous animated films and TV shows, takes on the role of VP Baines in the Devil May Cry anime. This new character can be heard in the trailer's opening voiceover.

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

The official synopsis from Netflix outlines the series' 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 projects like the 2012 Judge Dredd reboot film Dredd, the beloved Castlevania anime, and Netflix series such as The Guardians of Justice and Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon. He is also set to executive produce an adaptation of Assassin’s Creed.

Kevin Conroy in 2021. Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images.The series is being produced by Studio Mir, a well-established South Korean studio known for its work on popular projects like The Legend of Korra and X-Men ‘97. Devil May Cry is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on April 3, 2025.

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