Ray Gunn: Brad Bird's Long-Awaited Sci-Fi Mystery Finally Unveiled on Netflix
After three decades, Brad Bird's long-awaited mystery sci-fi film "Ray Gunn" is finally coming to life. Netflix has unveiled the first images of the retro-futuristic animated movie, along with the star-studded voice cast. The film, directed by Bird and co-written with Matthew Robbins, is set in the alternate future city of "Metropia" in 1939. Sam Rockwell stars as Raymond Gunn, a private eye entangled in a case involving murder, aliens, and Scarlett Johansson's Venus Nova. Tom Waits joins the cast as an alien named Eyera.
Johansson expressed her excitement about collaborating with Bird, calling it a career milestone. Bird, who has been nurturing the idea for "Ray Gunn" for over 30 years, sees the film as a blend of sci-fi and classic detective movies from the 1940s, combining elements of "Maltese Falcon" and "Buck Rogers." He aims to showcase the versatility and appeal of animation as a medium for storytelling, breaking free from traditional constraints.
The project, which Bird had pitched to Pixar in the early 2000s, was revived in 2022, leading Bird to step down from directing "Incredibles 3" to focus on "Ray Gunn." The film is produced by Skydance Animation, founded by David Ellison and overseen by John Lasseter, known for his work at Pixar. "Ray Gunn" marks Skydance's fourth feature and is set to premiere on Netflix in 2026. Stay tuned for more updates on this highly anticipated animated adventure.