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

This week, a new trailer for Netflix's Devil May Cry anime unveiled that the legendary late voice actor Kevin Conroy will posthumously star in the video game adaptation. This revelation sparked curiosity about whether AI had been used to recreate Conroy’s iconic voice. However, the anime's producer has confirmed otherwise.

In a tweet, producer Adi Shankar clarified that Conroy was recorded before his passing in November 2022, and emphasized, "no AI used."

"Mr. Conroy gave an amazingly nuanced performance," Shankar added. "It was both a pleasure and an honor to work with him."

Conroy, celebrated for voicing Bruce Wayne and Batman in numerous animated films and TV shows over the years, portrays a new character, VP Baines, in the Devil May Cry anime. His voice can be heard at the beginning of the trailer.

Johnny Yong Bosch, the voice actor for Dante in the series who also played Nero in the video games, shared his admiration for Conroy: "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."

Back in July 2024, Conroy received acclaim for his posthumous performance in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3. Now, fans have another opportunity to experience his work, following his untimely passing two-and-a-half years ago at the age of 66.

According to the official synopsis provided by Netflix, “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.”

Shankar also serves as the showrunner for the series. He is known for his work as the executive producer on the 2012 Judge Dredd reboot film Dredd, developing the acclaimed Castlevania anime, and creating Netflix series such as The Guardians of Justice and Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon. He is also slated to executive produce an adaptation of Assassin’s Creed.

Studio Mir, a well-established South Korean studio renowned for their work on 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 set to be released on Netflix on April 3, 2025.

Generative AI remains a hot topic within the video game and entertainment industries, which have both faced significant layoffs in recent years. Generative AI has drawn criticism from fans and creators due to ethical issues, rights issues, and its struggles to produce content that audiences enjoy.