Netflix is expanding its ambitious animation lineup with Ray Gunn, an original animated feature directed by two-time Academy Award winner Brad Bird and led by an all-star voice cast including Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson and Tom Waits. Set for release in 2026 and produced by Skydance Animation, the film blends sci-fi spectacle with classic detective noir in what Bird describes as “Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers” – a stylish mash-up that promises to feel unlike anything else in contemporary animation.
What is Ray Gunn about?
Ray Gunn is set in Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future imagined as if it were designed in 1939. In this retro-futuristic world of neon, shadow and soaring skylines, private eye Raymond Gunn is pulled into a dangerous case involving the following:
- enigmatic aliens,
- a shocking murder,
- and a magnetic multimedia star named Venus Nova.
The logline suggests a story that mixes hardboiled detective tropes with pulpy space‑age adventure, positioning Ray Gunn as both a love letter to studio‑era noir and a bold, visually rich sci‑fi mystery.
RAY GUNN – In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova. Cr: Skydance Animation/Netflix © 2026 
RAY GUNN – In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova. Cr: Skydance Animation/Netflix © 2026 
RAY GUNN – In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova. Cr: Skydance Animation/Netflix © 2026
A passion project 30 years in the making
For Brad Bird, Ray Gunn is more than just his next project – it’s a film he has been imagining for decades. As he explains:
“RAY GUNN has been in my mind for over 30 years. The film is a blend of sci-fi and classic detective movies from the ’40s… it’s Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers. I’ve been a fan of both of those sorts of genres, and blending them together seemed fun and a chance to play with a lot of very cinematic elements and extreme characters.”
That long gestation hints at a deeply personal project, where Bird can push animation both visually and narratively. Known for The Incredibles and Ratatouille, Bird has consistently used animation to explore sophisticated themes within crowd‑pleasing stories; Ray Gunn looks poised to continue that tradition while leaning even further into stylised genre filmmaking.
Production Company: Skydance Animation
Producers: John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Lisa Beroud, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg
Voice Cast: Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Waits
Logline: In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and multimedia star Venus Nova.
Brad Bird’s mission: expand what audiences think animation can be
Alongside the genre pitch, Bird is vocal about his desire to change how audiences perceive animation:
“There’s a big chunk of people who don’t watch animation. That’s a group I’m anxious to persuade because it’s an amazing art form that is way too limited in people’s minds. Animation as a medium is too interesting to limit what kind of stories can be told.”
Ray Gunn is positioned as a key part of that mission. By combining adult‑leaning noir storytelling, high‑concept sci‑fi and bold visual design, the film aims to appeal not only to traditional animation fans but also to viewers who usually think of animation as “just for kids”.
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson and Tom Waits
The voice cast of Ray Gunn reinforces its ambitions as a character‑driven, cinematic experience:
- Sam Rockwell voices Raymond Gunn, the titular private eye navigating Metropia’s dangerous underbelly.
- Scarlett Johansson plays Venus Nova, a multimedia star caught at the heart of the film’s conspiracy.
- Tom Waits joins the ensemble, bringing his distinctive voice and presence to the alternate‑future world.
Johansson has called the project a major artistic moment in her career:
“Having the opportunity to collaborate with Brad Bird is a career milestone for me; I have loved his work my entire life. This project is so uniquely special because it is a total realisation of where Brad is currently on his artistic journey. I can’t wait for audiences to see this extraordinary animation that looks like nothing else out there.”
Her comments underline how Ray Gunn is being developed not as a standard family cartoon but as a visually daring, auteur‑driven feature.
Creative team and production details
Ray Gunn carries a heavyweight creative and production team:
- Director: Brad Bird
- Original Story By: Brad Bird
- Screenplay By: Brad Bird and Matthew Robbins
- Production Company: Skydance Animation
Producers:
- John Lasseter
- Brad Bird
- Lisa Beroud
- David Ellison
- Dana Goldberg (for Skydance Animation)
This combination of seasoned storytellers and a major animation studio suggests a film with both strong authorial vision and substantial production backing, designed to compete at the highest level of global animation.
Ray Gunn and Netflix’s growing animation slate
Ray Gunn joins a rapidly expanding slate of Netflix original animated features, demonstrating the streamer’s commitment to animation as a cornerstone of its film strategy. That lineup includes:
- KPop Demon Hunters – the most popular Netflix film ever on the platform.
- Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio – Academy Award® winner.
- Academy Award®‑nominated titles such as Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Nimona, The Sea Beast, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Over the Moon, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon and Klaus.
- BAFTA®‑nominated Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
- Comedy fan favourites Leo and Back to the Outback.
- The upcoming steps.
Within this portfolio, Ray Gunn stands out as a high‑profile, director‑driven project that aims to push the boundaries of what mainstream animated features can look and feel like, both aesthetically and in terms of genre.
When will Ray Gunn be released?
Netflix has confirmed that Ray Gunn is slated for release in 2026. While specific dates and further marketing materials are yet to be revealed, the first‑look announcement, coupled with the star power of Brad Bird, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson and Tom Waits, positions the film as one of the streaming giant’s most anticipated animated releases of that year.
As promotional campaigns ramp up, viewers can expect more glimpses of Metropia’s retro‑futuristic world, its noir‑inflected mystery and the “looks‑like‑nothing‑else” animation style that Johansson has teased.
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