Devil May Cry Anime Producer Confirms Kevin Conroy Was Recorded Before He Passed Away: ‘No AI Used’

This week, fans were thrilled to learn that the late voice acting legend, Kevin Conroy, will posthumously star in Netflix's upcoming Devil May Cry anime. Conroy, celebrated for his iconic portrayal of Bruce Wayne and Batman in numerous animated projects, lends his voice to the new character VP Baines in the series. Following the release of a new trailer, speculation arose about whether artificial intelligence was used to recreate Conroy's voice. However, producer Adi Shankar quickly dispelled these rumors via a tweet, confirming that Conroy had recorded his part before his passing in November 2022, and no AI was utilized.

Shankar praised Conroy's performance as "amazingly nuanced," expressing the honor and pleasure of working with him. Johnny Yong Bosch, who voices Dante in the series and played Nero in the video games, also shared his admiration for Conroy, noting that their recording sessions took place several years ago, highlighting the lengthy process of animation production.

Conroy's final voice work in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 was lauded back in July 2024, and now, fans have another opportunity to hear his remarkable talent in Devil May Cry. The series follows Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, as he navigates sinister forces attempting to open a portal between the human and demon realms.

Adi Shankar, who also serves as the showrunner, is renowned for his work on projects like the 2012 Dredd film, the 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 Assassin’s Creed adaptation.

The series is being produced by Studio Mir, a respected South Korean studio with credits including The Legend of Korra and X-Men ‘97. Devil May Cry is slated to premiere on Netflix on April 3, 2025.

In the broader context, generative AI remains a controversial topic within the entertainment and video game industries, facing criticism over ethical and rights issues, as well as challenges in creating content that resonates with audiences.