I'm excited to see Netflix's trailer for Devil May Cry features plenty of action-packed moments reflective of the games' hack-and-slash, combo-based fights. It also hinted at the original ideas that will be featured throughout the new storyline.
The trailer comes off the heels of Netflix's latest animated success, the Arcane season 2. With the streaming service putting out many successful animated shows in recent years, Devil May Cry has a lot to live up to. This includes being faithful to the games while also putting its own spin on them, much like Shankar's Castlevania and Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix. However, I'm most surprised about who will be voicing Dante in the new animated show.
An Animated Devil May Cry Show Is A Better Idea Than A Live-Action Adaptation For 3 Reasons
The new Devil May Cry animated show’s teaser looks promising, proving it was a better pick for the video game adaptation than a live-action series.
Johnny Yong Bosch Plays Dante In Netflix’s Devil May Cry
Bosch Replaces Reuben Langdon From The Games
I was surprised to hear that Johnny Yong Bosch will be providing the voice for Dante in the Devil May Cry animated show. The new trailer very briefly revealed his voice, with the show's rendition of Sparda's son fighting demons, including saying his classic one-liner, "Jackpot!" While there are few story details, Shankar previously confirmed a multi-season plan featuring both Dante and his brother, Virgil, at the center of the game-inspired series. However, aside from Bosch, no other cast have been announced.
While his creation of Netlfix's Castlevania has since spawned the ongoing Castlevania: Nocturne, Devil May Cry is expected to tell an original story with some key differences from the games already hinted at. Besides Bosch providing the voice instead of longtime Dante voice actor Reuben Langdon, an animatic released during Netflix's Geeked Week 2023 teased the demon hunter also fighting humans, alongside the character Lady decked out in some form of armor. But the difference that stands out the most to me is Dante's voice, especially because the voice actor is familiar with the franchise already.
Johnny Yong Bosch Already Played Nero In Devil May Cry’s Games
Bosch Debuted As Nero In Devil May Cry 4
Bosch's voice was so surprising to me because he already voices Nero in the Devil May Cry games. Debuting in Devil May Cry 4, the young demon hunter comes into with Dante after his island homeland, Fortuna, is threatened by an army of demons. Possessing a demonic arm called the Devil Bringer, he's able to defend his homeland and save his adoptive sister Kyrie. However, during the events of Devil May Cry 5, Virgil returns and cuts off his arm, with later events in the game revealing him to be Nero's father.
Bosch has also acted in live-action roles throughout his career, with his first ever acting role being Adam Park, the second Black Ranger in Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers.
The young apprentice shares similar traits with Dante, although he is more serious compared to his uncle's laid-back, carefree attitude. This stark difference between both characters is what made me surprised Bosch would be voicing the protagonist of the animated series, as his experience lies with the more headstrong, brooding character. His rendition of Dante makes me excited to see how the series will approach his character, and if anything will change because of his new voice actor. However, Bosch has proven himself throughout his career to be versatile enough to bring Dante to life on the small screen.
What Other Characters Johnny Yong Bosch Is Known From
He's Dubbed Over Plenty Of Anime & Video Games
Beyond his portrayal of Nero, and now Dante, Bosch is known for his prolific voice-overs in dubbing Japanese anime and video games. Some of his more well-known roles include Ichigo Kurosaki in Bleach, Lelouch Vi Britannia in Code Geass, Sabo in One Piece, and Yu Narukami in Person 4. Some of his more recent dubbing roles include Yatora Yaguchi in Blue Period, Vash the Stampede in Trigun Stampede, Broly in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, and Masumi Arakawa in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. These roles underscore how his voice acting career makes him a strong choice for Dante.
However, Bosch has also acted in live-action roles throughout his career, with his first ever acting role being Adam Park, the second Black Ranger in Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. Adam would later become the Green Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo and Power Rangers Turbo before leaving as a series regular, Bosch reprising the role for the 2023 30th anniversary special Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: Once & Always. He's not done with live-action roles either, as he's slated to play Zeke in the action thriller movie Hellfire.
Johnny Yong Bosch also reprised his role as Adam Park in guest appearances during Power Rangers in Space and Power Rangers Operation Overdrive.
Given his penchant for voice acting coupled with some live-action roles in action-packed stories, I'm surprised but excited to hear him voice Dante in Netflix's Devil May Cry series. His familiarity with the series as Nero already gives him the experience he'll need to return to the franchise in a new medium. It also adds to the unpredictability of Shankar's story, something that I'm excited to see as he remixes the game series into a new story for Netflix.
Devil May Cry
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- Top Critic Avg: 77/100 Critics Rec: 67%
- Released
- October 16, 2001
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Capcom Production Studio 4
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 3
- Franchise
- Devil May Cry
- Platform(s)
- PS2, Xbox One
- How Long To Beat
- 6 Hours
- Metascore
- 94
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