Brad Bird is returning to animation with Ray Gunn, a sci-fi noir mystery that brings together the director's distinctive visual imagination and the conventions of classic detective cinema. Set in a retro-futuristic metropolis where humans and aliens coexist, the upcoming animated feature follows a private investigator caught in an increasingly complicated murder case. With a celebrated filmmaker behind the project and an impressive voice cast, the film is shaping up to be one of Netflix's more unusual animated releases of 2026.

Could December bring the long-awaited arrival of one of Bird's most ambitious passion projects? Here is everything to know about Ray Gunn.

Ray Gunn will premiere in select theaters on December 4, 2026, ahead of its global streaming debut on Netflix on December 18, 2026. The theatrical release will also include limited 70mm screenings, giving audiences an opportunity to experience the film's elaborate animation on the big screen before it arrives on the streaming platform. Netflix confirmed the release dates alongside the film's promotional material and official trailer.

Directed by Brad Bird and produced by Skydance Animation, the film has been more than three decades in development. Its journey, in the form of the trailer, to the screen has been a particularly long one, with Bird first developing the concept early in his career. The project also received its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2026, ahead of its December release.

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But an intriguing premise is only part of the appeal. The film also brings together several familiar Hollywood voices, with an ensemble that spans award-winning actors, musicians, and comedy performers.

The animated feature features an extensive voice cast led by Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson. Here are the confirmed performers and their characters:

 Sam Rockwell as Raymond Gunn: The Oscar-winning actor voices the film's titular protagonist, a private investigator struggling to find work in a city where machines have increasingly taken over detective work.

 Scarlett Johansson as Venus Nova: Johansson voices a famous multimedia superstar whose scandals threaten her career and potentially her life.

Tom Waits as Eyera: The Grammy-winning musician voices Ray's one-eyed alien partner and trusted companion.

 Matt Berry as Francis "Slugsy" Xavier: The What We Do in the Shadows actor voices a formidable, sponge-like mob boss.

 Michelle Rodriguez as Roz Dexler: She voices Metropia's police captain and Ray's former romantic partner.

 Bobby Cannavale: He voices Arnold Dom, Venus Nova's fourth husband, who approaches Ray with an investigation.

Alan Tudyk, Patton Oswalt, John Ratzenberger, Kathryn Hunter, Aasif Mandvi, Matt Jones, Michael Chernus, Kether Donohue, and Justin Peck also feature in supporting roles.

The combination of Rockwell's distinctive delivery, Johansson's dramatic range, and Waits' unmistakable voice gives the central trio an interesting dynamic. Brad Bird has also highlighted the importance of expressive voice performances in animation, since actors' timing and delivery help animators shape the characters' physical movements and personalities.

Ray Gunn takes place in Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future imagined through the aesthetic of 1939. Its world combines towering Art Deco-inspired skyscrapers, flying cars, jetpacks, and futuristic technology with the atmosphere of a classic detective picture. Humans and extraterrestrial beings share the same urban landscape, creating a setting where the extraordinary has become part of everyday life.

At the centre of the story is Raymond Gunn, a private investigator whose profession is gradually becoming obsolete as automated surveillance and robotic investigators take over. His circumstances change when he becomes involved in a case surrounding Venus Nova, a famous multimedia personality whose complicated personal life draws him into a dangerous mystery involving murder, aliens, and corruption. Alongside his alien partner Eyera, Ray must navigate Metropia's glamorous entertainment circles and its darker criminal underworld.

Brad Bird has described the concept as The Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers, offering a glimpse into the creative influences behind the film. The director of The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille is bringing together two distinct cinematic traditions to create an animated mystery that does not fit neatly into one genre.

With its December release approaching, Ray Gunn is finally bringing a decades-long creative vision to audiences. 

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Are you looking forward to Brad Bird's latest animated feature? Share your thoughts about the film and its trailer in the comments.