Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson Lead Brad Bird's Netflix Animated Film 'Ray Gunn'

Few directors have left as indelible a mark on the world of animation as Brad Bird. During his time with Disney and Pixar, he gifted us masterpieces like "The Incredibles" and "Ratatouille," following up on the beloved "The Iron Giant" even earlier. To say Bird understands how to craft timeless and stunning animation is, perhaps, an understatement.

We bring this up because Bird is soon to release his next animated feature, "Ray Gunn," marking his directorial return to animation since 2018's "Incredibles 2." Described as a stylish film, "Ray Gunn" blends a science-fiction setting with a classic 1940s detective premise, resulting in a genre-mixing narrative brimming with innovative ideas.

The official synopsis for "Ray Gunn" has been detailed as follows: "In Metropia, a gigantic city set in an alternate future envisioned from 1939, private detective Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, a murder, and a multimedia star named Venus Nova."

The reason "Ray Gunn" is making headlines now is due to Netflix recently sharing a wealth of additional information regarding the project, specifically its star-studded voice cast. Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson are confirmed as the lead actors, with Tom Waits also joining the ensemble. While Waits' specific role remains undisclosed, Johansson will lend her voice talents to Venus Nova, and Rockwell is expected to portray Raymond Gunn.

Beyond the casting news, Netflix also unveiled new images from the film. Although an exact premiere date on the streaming platform has not been provided, it is confirmed for 2026. Brad Bird himself has commented on his aspirations for the movie.

"'Ray Gunn' has been in my mind for over 30 years," Bird stated. "The film is a blend of science fiction and classic 1940s detective movies... it's 'The Maltese Falcon' meets 'Buck Rogers.' I've always been a fan of both genres, and mixing them felt like a fun opportunity to play with many cinematic elements and extreme characters."

He continued, "There's a large segment of people who don't watch animated films. This is a group I'm eager to persuade because it's an amazing art form that is far too limited in people's minds. Animation as a medium is too interesting to restrict the type of stories that can be told."

With a premiere set for later in 2026, anticipate the first trailer for "Ray Gunn" to arrive in the coming months.