Kevin Conroy Recorded for Devil May Cry Anime Before His Death, No AI Involved: Producer Confirms

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 to wonder 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 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, 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 voiceover at the beginning of the trailer, which you can watch below.

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

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."

Adi Shankar, who also serves as the showrunner for the series, is known for his work as an executive producer on the 2012 Judge Dredd reboot film Dredd, developing the acclaimed Castlevania anime, and creating other 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 renowned for their work on popular projects like The Legend of Korra and X-Men ‘97. Devil May Cry will be released on Netflix on April 3, 2025.

Generative AI remains a hotly debated topic within the video game and entertainment industries, which have faced significant layoffs in recent years. The technology has drawn criticism from both fans and creators due to ethical concerns, rights issues, and the challenges AI faces in creating content that audiences truly enjoy.