The Hidden ‘Devil May Cry’ Season 2 Tribute to James Van Der Beek That Changes How You Watch the Show

When viewers settle in for the premiere episode of ‘Devil May Cry’ Season 2 on Netflix, most are expecting demon-slaying action, nu-metal bangers, and the long-awaited showdown between Dante and his twin brother Vergil. What many will not be prepared for is the quiet, deeply personal message waiting at the end of the credits.

Tucked into the end credits of the first episode of ‘Devil May Cry’ Season 2 is a tribute that reads: “For My Older Brother JAMES VAN DER BEEK (1977-2026).” It is one of the most emotionally loaded moments the show has delivered yet, and it has nothing to do with Dante at all.

Who Was James Van Der Beek and Why Did Adi Shankar Call Him a Brother

Van Der Beek was best known to audiences for his iconic roles in ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘Varsity Blues’, two touchstone pieces of late-90s and early-2000s American pop culture. But his relationship with ‘Devil May Cry’ creator Adi Shankar runs much deeper than a shared love of animation or genre television.

In 2015, Van Der Beek played the role of Red Ranger Rocky DeSanto in the internet-hyped ‘Power/Rangers’ fan film produced by Adi Shankar, and co-wrote the project alongside him. That collaboration lit the fuse on a friendship that would quietly shape one of Netflix’s most celebrated animated series.

Van Der Beek recalled in a 2017 interview how Shankar got him involved in the Power Rangers project, saying his exact response was: “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. I’m in.” That response tells you everything you need to know about the bond between the two men.

Shankar has described Van Der Beek as far more than just the lead from ‘Dawson’s Creek’, pointing to his work as a dancer, singer, writer, director, showrunner, and creator as evidence of his true range. Van Der Beek even asked Shankar to come on as showrunner for a planned second season of ‘What Would Diplo Do?’, the Viceland series Van Der Beek created and starred in.

The Role James Van Der Beek Played in Building ‘Devil May Cry’ Season 1

According to Shankar, Van Der Beek was essentially his creative sounding board throughout the entire development of the first season, with the showrunner calling him at every step of the production process to share ideas about the script, the characters, and even the show’s now-iconic demonic bunny rabbit. He was never in the voice cast, but his fingerprints were all over the creative process.

Shankar even revealed that Van Der Beek directly influenced one of the show’s major music decisions, explaining that after showing him an animatic featuring “In the Air Tonight,” Van Der Beek mentioned wanting to use that same song for a fight scene in a planned ‘Roadhouse’ television series he was developing during the pandemic. Out of respect for his friend, Shankar pulled the track from ‘Devil May Cry’ entirely.

In a Rolling Stone India interview, Shankar described Van Der Beek as someone who would read the Bhagavad Gita and quote it back to him during their calls, a detail that speaks to the unexpected depth and spiritual dimension of their friendship. An actor from rural Connecticut quoting ancient Indian scripture to a Kolkata-born showrunner during the making of an animated demon-hunter series is the kind of story that writes itself.

Shankar has been open about how much he felt Van Der Beek’s absence during the making of Season 2, saying plainly: “I don’t have my friend to navigate this with. I don’t have James to talk to about all of this.” That grief is embedded directly into the show itself.

James Van Der Beek’s Death and the Legacy He Left Behind

Van Der Beek passed away on February 11, 2026, following a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer that had been diagnosed in 2023. He had kept the diagnosis largely private before going public with it in late 2024, choosing instead to focus on treatment and family.

His wife Kimberly announced his passing on social media, writing: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.” Tributes poured in from across the entertainment world, including heartfelt statements from his ‘Dawson’s Creek’ co-stars.

In the months before his death, Van Der Beek had used his public platform consistently to raise awareness about colorectal cancer, urging people not to dismiss even minor changes in their bodies and stressing the importance of getting screened at age 45. His advocacy turned a devastating personal experience into something that may well save lives.

Shortly after Van Der Beek’s death, Shankar described his friend as “incredibly spiritually gifted and spiritually insightful,” calling him the kind of person you called when any situation felt impossibly hard, someone who could help you see the light through even the darkest moments. The end-credits tribute in ‘Devil May Cry’ Season 2 is a direct expression of that bond.

What the Tribute Means for ‘Devil May Cry’ Season 2 and Its Fans

Season 1 of ‘Devil May Cry’ was a critical and commercial hit that renewed global conversations around what adult animation can accomplish, and Season 2 arrives on May 12 with the weight of high expectations and Shankar’s very personal grief embedded in its DNA. That combination gives the new season an emotional texture that goes well beyond its action sequences.

The new season centers on Dante confronting his estranged twin brother Vergil, with the official Netflix synopsis framing the story as one about confronting personal demons and the family lost in childhood. Given everything Shankar has shared about the loss of Van Der Beek, that thematic focus on brotherhood, loss, and the people who shape you without ever appearing in the credits hits considerably differently now.

The series has continued to have a meaningful cultural impact beyond viewership numbers, with ‘Devil May Cry 5’ reportedly exceeding 10 million sales, a boost many attributed to the Netflix show reigniting interest in the broader franchise. Van Der Beek played a quiet but real role in getting that machine started, and the tribute Shankar placed at the top of Season 2 makes sure he is not forgotten.

The end-credits message calling Van Der Beek “My Older Brother” is not just a dedication but a declaration of how much creative friendships can quietly underpin the art we celebrate. Whether you watched ‘Devil May Cry’ Season 1 when it dropped or you are just arriving now, knowing who James Van Der Beek was to Adi Shankar before you hit play on that first episode makes the whole experience feel like something more. Share in the comments how this tribute landed for you once you reached that end-credits moment, and whether knowing the story behind it changes the way you see the show.