This week, fans were thrilled to learn that the legendary late voice actor Kevin Conroy will posthumously star in Netflix's upcoming Devil May Cry anime. A new trailer revealed that Conroy, celebrated for voicing Bruce Wayne and Batman in numerous animated projects, lends his voice to the character VP Baines. This news sparked speculation about the use of AI to recreate Conroy’s iconic voice, but producer Adi Shankar quickly dispelled those rumors via a tweet.

Shankar confirmed that Conroy recorded his part before his passing in November 2022, and emphasized that "no AI was used." He praised Conroy’s performance as "amazingly nuanced" and expressed that it was both a pleasure and an honor to work with him.

Johnny Yong Bosch, who voices Dante and played Nero in the Devil May Cry video games, also shared his sentiments on working with Conroy. He described it as an honor and highlighted Conroy's influence, particularly through Batman: The Animated Series. Bosch noted that their recording sessions took place a few years ago, underscoring the time-intensive nature of animation production.

Conroy's posthumous voice work has already been acclaimed in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3 in July 2024. Now, fans eagerly await another opportunity to hear his work in the Devil May Cry series, following his untimely death at age 66 two-and-a-half years ago.

The official synopsis from Netflix sets the stage for 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."

Adi Shankar, who also serves as the showrunner, brings a rich portfolio to the project. Known for his work as executive producer on the 2012 Dredd film, the acclaimed Castlevania anime, and Netflix series like The Guardians of Justice and Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon, Shankar is also set to executive produce an adaptation of Assassin’s Creed.

Studio Mir, renowned for their work on The Legend of Korra and X-Men '97, will handle the production of this new series. Devil May Cry is slated to premiere on Netflix on April 3, 2025.

The topic of generative AI remains a hot button issue in the entertainment and video game industries, both of which have faced significant layoffs recently. AI has drawn criticism for ethical and rights concerns, as well as its challenges in creating content that resonates with audiences.