This week, fans were thrilled to see a new trailer for Netflix's upcoming Devil May Cry anime, which revealed that the legendary late voice actor Kevin Conroy will posthumously star in the video game adaptation. Some speculated that AI might have been used to recreate Conroy's iconic voice, but producer Adi Shankar quickly dispelled those rumors via a tweet. Shankar confirmed that Conroy was recorded before his passing in November 2022 and emphasized, "no AI used." He praised Conroy's performance, stating, "Mr. Conroy gave it an amazingly nuanced performance. It was both a pleasure and an honor to work with him."

Conroy, widely celebrated for voicing Bruce Wayne and Batman in numerous animated films and TV shows, takes on the role of VP Baines, a new character introduced in the Devil May Cry anime. You can hear his voiceover at the beginning of the trailer.

Johnny Yong Bosch, the voice actor for Dante in the series and Nero in the video games, also shared 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 voice work was previously lauded in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 back in July 2024. Now, fans have another opportunity to appreciate his talent following his passing at the age of 66, two-and-a-half years ago.

According to Netflix's official synopsis, the series centers on sinister forces attempting to open a portal between the human and demon realms, with Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, unknowingly holding the fate of both worlds in his hands.

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

The production of the series is being handled by Studio Mir, a renowned South Korean studio known for their work on 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 hot topic within the video game and entertainment industries, which have faced significant layoffs in recent years. The use of AI has sparked debates over ethical and rights issues, as well as its ability to create content that resonates with audiences.