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8 clusters · 32 sources · 55 days · First seen · Last updated

Release and premiere schedule for Brad Bird’s ‘Ray Gunn’

Overview

The animated sci-fi noir film ‘Ray Gunn’, directed by Brad Bird, is scheduled for a global release on Netflix on December 18, 2026, following a limited theatrical release on December 4, 2026. Produced by Skydance Animation, the project is a long-term passion project for Bird that dates back to 1996. It is reported that Bird stepped away from directing ‘Incredibles 3’ to focus on this film.

While the project transitioned from an original 2D concept to 3D animation with support from Cinesite, Bird specified that the film utilizes traditional frame-by-frame animation rather than motion capture. The estimated budget for the project exceeds $150 million.

Prior to its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 10, 2026, Bird was named a 2026 honoree at the Austin Film Festival. The London premiere received mixed reviews; while The Guardian gave the film a perfect 5/5 rating, The Hollywood Reporter described it as a “blandly palatable jumble of sci-fi and neo-noir clichés.”

Set in the retro-futuristic metropolis of Metropia, the story follows private detective Raymond Gunn (Sam Rockwell) and his alien partner, Eye-Ra Kadok (Tom Waits), as they investigate a murder involving multimedia superstar Venus Nova (Scarlett Johansson). Following the premiere, Bird discussed the film’s soundtrack, noting that singer-songwriter Kimbra wrote songs with specific narrative functions. This includes the track ‘Innocent’, designed as a catchy earworm to help the in-universe press frame questions regarding the character’s guilt. Michael Giacchino is also set to compose the score.

Entities

Brad Bird · Scarlett Johansson · Sam Rockwell · Netflix · Skydance Animation

Timeline

  1. [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Brad Bird discusses Kimbra's soundtrack contributions to Ray Gunn

    Director Brad Bird discussed collaborating with Kimbra on the Ray Gunn soundtrack, specifically the song ‘Innocent’, designed to be a catchy earworm that aids the film's narrative mystery.

  2. [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Brad Bird releases Ray Gunn animated film

    Brad Bird's new animated film, Ray Gunn, is a retro-futurist noir adventure set in the city of Metropia, following a hardboiled private eye voiced by Sam Rockwell.

  3. [CULTURE] 11 sources
    Brad Bird’s ‘Ray Gunn’ receives mixed reviews at London Film Festival premiere

    Brad Bird’s decades-long passion project ‘Ray Gunn’ debuted at the BFI London Film Festival to mixed reviews, blending sci-fi and film noir with a star-studded voice cast.

  4. [CULTURE] 5 sources
    Brad Bird debuts animated film Ray Gunn

    Director Brad Bird debuts his animated sci-fi detective film ‘Ray Gunn’ at the London Film Festival, a project inspired by classic noir films like ‘Chinatown’ and ‘Blade Runner’.

  5. [CULTURE] 3 sources
    Netflix unveils trailer for Brad Bird's Ray Gunn

    Netflix has unveiled the trailer for Brad Bird’s upcoming sci-fi noir animated film, Ray Gunn, starring Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson. It arrives on the platform in December 2026.

  6. [CULTURE] 6 sources
    Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn trailer reveals December 2026 release

    Netflix has released the first trailer for Brad Bird’s animated film Ray Gunn, set for a theatrical and streaming release in December 2026.

  7. [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Brad Bird’s ‘Ray Gunn’ to premiere at BFI London Film Festival before Netflix release

    Brad Bird’s neo-noir animated film ‘Ray Gunn’ will premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2026 before arriving on Netflix in December 2026.

  8. [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Austin Film Festival announces Brad Bird as award honoree

    The Austin Film Festival will honor Brad Bird with the 2026 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award and host the Texas premiere of his new film, ‘Ray Gunn’.

Sources

anygoodfilms.com · austinchronicle.com · awardsradar.com · bestmovie.it · buzzwebzine.fr · cartoonbrew.com · catsuka.com · cinema.everyeye.it · cinemablend.com · cinevisao.pt · comicbasics.com · comingsoon.net · cosmicbook.news · deadline.com · denofgeek.com · europesays.com · filmthreat.com · findacode.com · forbesliberia.com · geektyrant.com · geekzilla.tech · in.mashable.com · independent.co.uk · lwlies.com · metropolitanmagazine.it · nonetflix.com.br · pk.ign.com · punchdrunkcritics.com · screendaily.com · technosports.co.in · universo-nintendo.com.mx · worldofreel.com

This summary has been updated 11 times: see revision history