Ray Gunn: A Sci-Fi Noir Mystery Animated by Brad Bird
Brad Bird is returning to animation with Ray Gunn, a sci-fi noir mystery that combines his distinctive visual imagination with classic detective cinema. Set in a retro-futuristic metropolis where humans and aliens coexist, the film follows a private investigator entangled in a complex murder case. With a celebrated filmmaker at the helm and an impressive voice cast, it promises to be one of Netflix's more unique animated releases of 2026.
Could December bring the long-awaited arrival of Bird's passion project? Here's what you need to know about Ray Gunn.
Ray Gunn will premiere in select theaters on December 4, 2026, ahead of its global streaming debut on Netflix on December 18, 2026. The theatrical release will include limited 70mm screenings, offering audiences a chance to experience the film's elaborate animation on the big screen before it streams. Netflix announced these release dates alongside the film's promotional material and official trailer.
Directed by Brad Bird and produced by Skydance Animation, the film has been in development for over three decades. Its journey, showcased in the trailer, began early in Bird's career. The project also had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2026, prior to its December release.
But the intriguing premise is just one aspect that makes the film appealing. It features a star-studded cast, including:
- Sam Rockwell as Raymond Gunn: The Oscar-winning actor voices the protagonist, a private investigator struggling to find work in a city where machines handle detective work.
- Scarlett Johansson as Venus Nova: Johansson voices a renowned multimedia superstar whose scandals threaten her career and life.
- Tom Waits as Eyera: The Grammy-winning musician lends his voice to Ray's one-eyed alien partner.
- Matt Berry as Francis "Slugsy" Xavier: The What We Do in the Shadows actor plays a formidable, sponge-like mob boss.
- Michelle Rodriguez as Roz Dexler: She voices Metropia's police captain and Ray's ex-romantic partner.
- Bobby Cannavale, Alan Tudyk, Patton Oswalt, John Ratzenberger, Kathryn Hunter, Aasif Mandvi, Matt Jones, Michael Chernus, Kether Donohue, and Justin Peck also star in supporting roles.
The combination of Rockwell's distinct delivery, Johansson's dramatic range, and Waits' unique voice creates an engaging dynamic for the central trio. Brad Bird has emphasized the importance of expressive voice performances in animation, as actors' timing and delivery assist animators in shaping the characters' movements and personalities.
Ray Gunn takes place in Metropia, a sprawling city in an alternate future, blending the aesthetics of 1939 with futuristic technology. Humans and extraterrestrial beings coexist, making the extraordinary part of everyday life. The story revolves around Raymond Gunn, a private investigator whose profession is becoming obsolete as automated surveillance and robotic investigators take over. His life takes a turn when he becomes entangled in a case involving Venus Nova, a multimedia celebrity whose complex personal life draws him into a dangerous mystery involving murder, aliens, and corruption.