This week, Netflix unveiled a new trailer for its eagerly anticipated Devil May Cry anime, revealing that the legendary late voice actor Kevin Conroy will posthumously lend his voice to the video game adaptation. This announcement sparked curiosity among fans, leading to speculation about the use of AI to recreate Conroy's iconic voice. 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, stating, "Mr. Conroy gave an amazingly nuanced performance. It was both a pleasure and an honor to work with him." Conroy, widely celebrated as the longtime voice of Bruce Wayne and Batman in various animated series and films, takes on the role of VP Baines in the anime—a new character introduced in the trailer's opening voiceover.

Johnny Yong Bosch, who voices Dante in the series and played Nero in the video games, expressed his admiration for Conroy, saying, "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 work continues to resonate with fans, as evidenced by the acclaim he received for his performance in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 back in July 2024. Now, with Devil May Cry, fans have another opportunity to appreciate his talent following his untimely passing at the age of 66, two-and-a-half years ago.

According to Netflix's official synopsis, the series centers on "sinister forces 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 as an executive producer on the 2012 Judge Dredd reboot film Dredd, developing the beloved Castlevania anime, and creating 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.

Studio Mir, a well-established South Korean studio known for their work on popular projects like The Legend of Korra and X-Men '97, will serve as the chief production studio for this new series. Devil May Cry is slated for release on Netflix on April 3, 2025.

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