Show Creator Adi Shankar and Lead Actress Scout Taylor-Compton Discuss New Devil May Cry Anime

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Netflix’s fresh anime adaptation titled “Devil May Cry” follows the tale of two young demon hunters, Dante and Lady, who have distinct histories and driving forces. Fans of the game franchise will undoubtedly appreciate this visually appealing series, as it seamlessly blends intense action, music reminiscent of early 2000s Nu-Metal, and a captivating narrative that explores the roots of both Dante and Lady.

In a recent chat with Adi Shankar, creator of Devil May Cry, and Scout Taylor-Compton, who portrays Lady, they shared insights on crafting a series that caters to both longtime fans and novices. They also delved into the organic connection Taylor-Compton found in embodying her character, Lady. For the sake of clarity and conciseness, this conversation has been condensed.

How Devil May Cry Balances Old and New Fan Expectations

Question: How do you believe the Devil May Cry series manages to captivate both its long-term followers and new audiences, and in what ways does it uphold the fundamental ideas of the franchise?

Shankar: Initially, I aimed to accomplish exactly what you mentioned, and I viewed it as a form of alchemy. The fan base for Devil May Cry is quite devoted, but if you delve deeper, the fandom is fragmented due to various games and outfits. It’s not unified, so this was an attempt at bringing unity through alchemy.

In simpler terms, when I refer to ‘cosmic editing’, it means reorganizing or reinterpreting a story as if I had the benefit of hindsight from 24 years and the ability to make changes on a cosmic scale that can’t be altered again. For instance, when I work on something like Captain Laserhawk, I might decide to turn everything upside down. But in this case, my objective wasn’t to overturn everything; instead, it was to expose the underlying structure that has always been present.

Devil May Cry’s Dante and Lady’s Relationship Evolves as the Show Progresses

What’s the story behind the changing dynamics between a lady and Dante, which often involved strain and turmoil? As the series unfolded, how did their relationship complexity develop?

In a different scenario: I yearned to reach out to Jonny (Yong Bosch) during the recording process to inquire, “What were you up to at that specific instant?” Alas, I was left with only my imagination. Since we record individually, we don’t record alongside other actors. This means it’s just me reciting my lines, leaving me clueless about what the other actors were doing. However, I believe the key point is that I grasped the material well. Given that I understand Adi, I could decipher the context. Fortunately, Johnny delivered an outstanding performance. Despite not physically connecting in the same room, our performances seemed to resonate with one another.

Devil May Cry’s Lady, Explained

Shankar: To clarify, the depiction of Lady in this version bears a strong resemblance to a dynamic between Scout and myself from a previous film we starred in together. Essentially, Lady is like a younger version of Scout, if you catch my drift. This particular Lady hails from the Devil May Cry video games. It’s not a new character, but rather a portrayal of these characters at a younger age. As far as I’m concerned, in this context, Lady is equivalent to Scout.

I celebrated Halloween, and Laurie Strode is a beloved character who holds a special place in my heart. I was obsessed with those movies, and I always aspired to embody her spirit. However, for this project, I didn’t immerse myself by re-watching the films, playing the games, or listening to her voice recordings. Adi Shankar and I have a long history together, and I trust that he would choose the perfect actress for the role of Lady. I believe she was the ideal choice for this love story that he envisioned.

When he selected me, I had faith that what I was contributing to the role was precisely what Lady required. For the first time in this role, I placed complete trust in myself. The comfort I felt might have been due to our friendship as well. Essentially, I said, “I believe in you, I believe in myself, I believe in the vision. I’m going to give it my best and pour all of my strength and my perception of her into it.

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2025-04-03 18:30