Brad Bird's New Netflix Film 'Ray Gunn' Set for December Release

Acclaimed animator Brad Bird has finally secured backing for his long‑awaited passion project, the sci‑fi noir animated film Ray Gunn. The movie, set in the art‑deco‑styled city of Metropia, follows private eye Raymond Gunn (voiced by Sam Rockwell) as he investigates murders linked to pop superstar Venus Nova (Scarlett Johansson). A preview of the opening sequence was shown at the Annecy Animation Film Festival, drawing attention for its blend of film‑noir aesthetics and futuristic alien designs.

Bird explained that the project, initially conceived as a 2‑D film in the 1990s, moved to computer‑generated animation after hand‑drawn support fell short, and that Netflix’s commitment was crucial to bring the film to fruition. He also discussed his philosophy of choosing medium based on story needs rather than industry expectations, noting that the film will debut worldwide on Netflix on 18 December.