Brad Bird’s Retro Future
When you pair visionary storytelling with a dash of vintage glamour, the result is pure cinematic alchemy. Director Brad Bird has long captivated audiences by taking them into futuristic worlds through a delightfully retro aesthetic. Now, he is channeling that same imaginative energy into an upcoming animated feature for Netflix, Ray Gunn, a project that expertly fuses classic detective film noirs with mind-bending science fiction.
This new venture throws us into the sprawling city of Metropia, an alternate future setting viewed through the lens of 1939. The narrative centers on private eye Raymond Gunn, who finds himself entangled in a complex case involving aliens, murder, and the dazzling multimedia star, Venus Nova. It is a tale that feels steeped in atmosphere—a perfect blend of genre mashups like Maltese Falcon meeting Buck Rogers.
The production is anchored by an exceptional cast ready to bring these cinematic archetypes to life. Sam Rockwell takes on the role of Raymond Gunn, while Scarlett Johansson brings her signature breathy pipes to the role of Venus Nova. Adding another layer of intrigue, Tom Waits is set to portray Eyera, further enriching the world of Metropia.
The vision for Ray Gunn extends far beyond the surface story; it is a deep dive into cinematic storytelling itself. Bird, who conceived the film and co-wrote the script with Matthew Robbins, aims to push the boundaries of what animation can achieve. He views animation not as a limitation, but as an incredible medium capable of telling stories that are too grand for ordinary minds.
Bird has expressed a profound interest in blending these disparate cinematic elements, seeing it as a chance to explore extreme characters and highly cinematic storytelling. “RAY GUNN has been in my mind for over 30 years,” he shared, describing the project as a delightful collision of sci-fi and classic detective tropes.
The creative team behind this vision includes a stellar lineup, with producers such as John Lasseter, Lisa Beroud, David Ellison, and Dana Goldberg overseeing the animation at Skydance Animation. The synergy between Bird’s unique sensibility and the animation studio promises something truly extraordinary.
For the lead actress, Scarlett Johansson views this collaboration as a career milestone. She is thrilled to work with Brad Bird, calling the project uniquely special because it represents a total realization of his artistic journey, and she cannot wait for audiences to see the extraordinary animation unfolding on screen.
Mark your calendars: Netflix has locked in a premiere date for Ray Gunn, set to entertain audiences around Christmastime on December 18, 2026.
Credit: JoBlo
