Netflix has just released the first official trailer and poster for Ray Gunn, the new animated feature from Academy‑award‑winning filmmaker Brad Bird and Skydance Animation. The preview gives fans a glimpse of a sprawling, 1939‑style metropolis called Metropia, where a hard‑boiled private eye becomes entangled in an extraterrestrial murder mystery. The movie will open in a limited theatrical run—complete with a 70 mm presentation—on December 4, 2026, before arriving on Netflix’s streaming platform on December 18, 2026.
Plot Overview and Creative Vision
Set in an alternate future imagined through the lens of 1939, Ray Gunn follows Raymond Gunn (voiced by Sam Rockwell), a gumshoe detective whose latest case pulls him into a web of alien conspiracies, a homicide, and a dazzling multimedia star named Venus Nova (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). Brad Bird describes the story as “The Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers,” merging classic film‑noir storytelling with vintage science‑fiction aesthetics. The director, whose résumé includes The Incredibles 2, Ratatouille, The Incredibles, and The Iron Giant, says the project has been simmering in his mind for more than three decades.
Star‑Studded Voice Cast
In addition to Rockwell and Johansson, the ensemble features a roster of acclaimed actors:
- Alan Tudyk
- Matt Berry
- Bobby Cannavale
- Michael Chernus
- Kether Donohue
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Aasif Mandvi
- Matt Jones
- Kathryn Hunter
- John Ratzenberger
- Justin Peck
- Patton Oswalt
Each performer brings a distinct personality to the richly designed world of Metropia, promising an audio experience as layered as the visual one.
Production Team and Technical Credits
The screenplay is a collaboration between Brad Bird and veteran writer Matthew Robbins. Production responsibilities are shared by John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Lisa Beroud, David Ellison, and Dana Goldberg under the Skydance Animation banner.
Key department heads include:
- Editor: Darren Holmes
- Production Designer: Paul Felix
- Art Director: Wendell Luebbe
- VFX Supervisors: Josh Herring, Adele Abada, Cinesite
- Director of Photography: Erik Smitt
- Costume Designer: Neysa Bove
Michael Giacchino provides the original score, while singer‑songwriter Kimbra contributes and produces new songs tailored to the film’s retro‑futuristic vibe.
Rating and Audience Appeal
The Motion Picture Association has assigned the film a PG rating, citing violence, action, language, suggestive material, and thematic elements. Director Brad Bird emphasizes that animation should not be confined to children’s stories. “There’s a sizable audience that overlooks animation because they think it’s only for kids,” he noted. “Ray Gunn shows that the medium can tackle sophisticated, genre‑blending narratives.”
Scarlett Johansson echoed this sentiment, calling the project “a career milestone” and praising Bird’s artistic evolution. “It’s a unique piece of animation that looks unlike anything else on screen today,” she said.
Where Ray Gunn Fits in Netflix’s Animation Portfolio
Ray Gunn joins an impressive lineup of Netflix original animated titles, which include the record‑breaking KPop Demon Hunters, Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar‑winning Pinocchio, and the Academy Award‑nominated Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Nimona. Other recent successes such as The Sea Beast, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Over the Moon, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, and Klaus demonstrate Netflix’s commitment to diverse, high‑quality animation. The streaming giant also offers BAFTA‑nominated Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, Critics Choice‑nominated In Your Dreams, and family favorites like Leo and Back to the Outback, with upcoming releases In Waves and Steps slated for later in the year.
Release Strategy
By opting for a limited theatrical debut in 70 mm, Netflix aims to give cinephiles an opportunity to experience the film’s detailed craftsmanship on the big screen before the wider streaming rollout. The strategy mirrors recent Netflix releases that combined limited runs with digital availability, a model that has proved successful in garnering both critical acclaim and audience buzz.
As anticipation builds, the trailer’s blend of noir shadows, chrome‑lined skylines, and pulsating jazz scores hints that Ray Gunn could become a defining entry in the evolving landscape of adult‑oriented animated cinema.
