Netflix has released the first official trailer for Brad Bird’s animated feature Ray Gunn, revealing a stylish world where classic detective noir meets science-fiction adventure. Set in Metropia, a gigantic city imagined as an alternate 1939 future, the film follows private investigator Raymond Gunn, voiced by Sam Rockwell, as he becomes involved in a case involving murder, aliens and multimedia star Venus Nova, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Tom Waits voices Ray’s one-eyed alien partner, Eyera.
The project is especially notable because Brad Bird has been carrying the idea for more than 30 years. The filmmaker behind The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille first developed the concept early in his career, and its central idea remained with him through major changes in animation. Brad Bird has described the film’s basic pitch as “The Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers,” bringing the mood of classic detective movies together with the imagination of pulp science fiction.
That combination gives the film its identity. Metropia is filled with flying cars, towering buildings and futuristic technology, but its polished surface hides murder, corruption and a darker criminal world. The city’s look draws from Art Deco and a pre-World War II vision of the future, creating a setting that feels optimistic at first glance while retaining the shadows expected from a detective story.
At the center is Raymond Gunn, a private investigator working in a time when much of the practical detective work has been taken over by tiny “pry bots.” Ray and Eyera are among the investigators who still work the old-fashioned way. Venus Nova brings another layer to the mystery. She is one of Metropia’s biggest stars, and her troubled world places Ray on a trail through the city’s glamorous heights and more dangerous corners.
The voice cast adds to the film’s distinctive character. Sam Rockwell leads as Ray, while Scarlett Johansson voices Venus Nova and Tom Waits plays Eyera. Brad Bird has said Sam Rockwell’s performance gives the animators a strong reference for Ray’s personality and movement. The director also wanted voices that could keep animators inspired during the long process of bringing performances to life.
It also marks Brad Bird’s return to original animated filmmaking after Incredibles 2, his most recent animated feature. Skydance’s 2022 announcement described Ray Gunn as a film Brad Bird had wanted to make for a long time, while confirming that he would direct and produce from his original story, with Matthew Robbins writing the screenplay with him. That history makes the trailer more than a first look at a title; it is the first glimpse of an idea that has survived with its creator for decades.
Behind the film is Skydance Animation, which acquired the rights in 2022. John Lasseter, David Ellison and Dana Goldberg were attached as producers when the project was announced, reuniting Brad Bird with John Lasseter after their previous work together. Netflix is now bringing the finished film to audiences, giving the decades-old concept a major streaming home.
The idea also has an unusual musical connection. Brad Bird has explained that he heard the B-52s’ “Planet Claire” and initially thought its opening sounded like Henry Mancini’s “Peter Gunn” theme. That mistaken connection helped inspire the name Ray Gunn, adding another unexpected piece to the project’s long history.
The new trailer finally puts that history on screen, showing the scale of Metropia while introducing a detective story that looks deliberately different from conventional animated adventures. Ray Gunn is scheduled to arrive in select theaters on December 4, including limited 70mm screenings, before streaming exclusively on Netflix on December 18. After decades of development, Brad Bird’s original vision is finally moving from an idea into a finished film.
Watch Ray Gunn Trailer:
