Netflix's upcoming Devil May Cry anime features a posthumous performance by the legendary Kevin Conroy. This sparked speculation about AI voice replication, but producer Adi Shankar clarified on Twitter that Conroy's recording predates his passing in November 2022. Shankar praised Conroy's "amazingly nuanced performance," emphasizing that no AI was used.
Conroy, renowned for his iconic portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman across numerous animated projects, voices the new character VP Baines in the Devil May Cry anime. His performance can be heard in the trailer below.
Co-star Johnny Yong Bosch (Dante/Nero in the video games) confirmed the recordings took place several years ago, highlighting the lengthy animation production process and paying tribute to Conroy's legacy. This marks another posthumous appearance for Conroy, following his acclaimed work in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 (July 2024).
Netflix's synopsis describes the series: “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.”
Showrunner Adi Shankar, known for his work on Dredd, Castlevania, and other Netflix projects, is also executive producing an upcoming Assassin's Creed adaptation. South Korean studio Mir (The Legend of Korra, X-Men ‘97) is the main production studio for Devil May Cry, launching on Netflix April 3, 2025.
The use of generative AI in entertainment remains a hot-button topic, amidst recent industry layoffs and ongoing ethical and rights concerns. The technology's ability to consistently produce high-quality, audience-pleasing content continues to be debated.
