Discover How ‘Cosmic Editing’ Revives Devil May Cry for a New Generation!

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Ever since its debut in 2001, the Devil May Cry video game series has gained immense popularity. The initial game gave rise to many sequels, comics, novels, and even an animated series back in 2007. Now, a spinoff animated series is all set to premiere on Netflix, with Jonny Yong Bosch, who played Nero in Devil May Cry 4 and 5, taking on the role of Dante, and Scout Taylor-Compton portraying Lady.

Game Rant had a chat with Adi Shankar, the creator of Devil May Cry, about his efforts to attract fresh fans while preserving the series’ legacy. Known for his successful Castlevania anime, Shankar aims to surpass himself with his stylish new take on Devil May Cry.

Devil May Cry Attempts to Appeal to All Fans

Over time, the following of the “Devil May Cry” series has multiplied rapidly with each fresh installment. As the franchise ventured into various forms of media, it drew a diverse array of new enthusiasts. Therefore, when creating the Netflix anime, Shankar recognized the need to cater to as many of these fans as possible, all while aiming to entice new ones. He elaborated on his approach to achieving this balance.

This experience felt like a blend of alchemy. The fan base for Devil May Cry, while passionate and committed, is actually quite fragmented. With various games and outfits to consider, there’s not much unity among us fans. Therefore, this was more like an attempt at alchemical fusion – trying to merge all the diverse elements into one unified whole.

Adi Shankar Used 24 Years’ Worth of Hindsight When Making Devil May Cry

By adapting a show from an established video game franchise like Devil May Cry, there’s a rich tapestry of history and details, or lore, to draw upon. Shankar emphasized the importance of incorporating as much of this existing lore as he could without altering the fundamental aspects of the characters or the world. He referred to this process as ‘cosmic editing.’ In further explanation, Shankar stated that this approach involved skillfully weaving in elements from the game’s lore while preserving the essence of the original characters and setting.

When I talk about ‘cosmic editing,’ I mean it as if I’ve got 24 years’ worth of material that has been subtly altered or reimagined over time, known as retconning. I then envision this cosmic opportunity to make changes and freeze them permanently, but without further alterations. This is the essence of cosmic editing. Occasionally, when working on something like ‘Captain Laserhawk,’ I might decide to completely change everything, but here, my intention was different. Instead, I aimed to unveil the underlying structure that has always been present.

As a die-hard fan of Devil May Cry, I firmly believe that honoring the essence of the original material while infusing it with a modern touch was crucial in creating an exceptional adaptation. The younger versions of Dante and Lady not only breathe new life into the series but also provide a refreshing vibe. Moreover, incorporating early 2000s Nu-Metal, with Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)” serving as the show’s main theme, takes me down memory lane, offering a delightful blast from the past for those of us who were grooving to this music when the first game initially hit the shelves.

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2025-04-03 15:26