## Brad Bird Returns: First Look at the Retro-Futuristic ‘Ray Gunn’
After a hiatus following the massive success of 2018’s *Incredibles 2*, legendary filmmaker Brad Bird is finally stepping back into the director’s chair. Netflix has officially unveiled the inaugural trailer for his latest animated project, Ray Gunn, signaling a bold new chapter for the visionary behind *The Iron Giant*.
### A Cinematic Event: Release Strategy
Audiences won’t have to wait long to experience Bird’s latest creation. The film is scheduled for a specialized, limited run in theaters starting December 4. Shortly thereafter, it will make its global debut on Netflix on December 18, allowing subscribers worldwide to dive into Bird’s meticulously crafted universe.
### Inside the World of Metropia
The narrative transports viewers to Metropia, a sprawling, hyper-stylized metropolis that reimagines the future through the lens of 1939 aesthetics. The story follows Raymond Gunn, a gritty private investigator voiced by Sam Rockwell, who finds himself entangled in a high-stakes mystery. His investigation leads him down a dangerous path involving extraterrestrial threats and a high-profile multimedia icon, Venus Nova, portrayed by Scarlett Johansson. The cast is further bolstered by the distinct presence of Tom Waits.
### A Passion Project Decades in the Making
For Bird, *Ray Gunn* represents the culmination of a creative journey that began long before his tenure at Pixar. “This concept has been percolating in my imagination for more than three decades,” Bird noted.
He describes the film as a stylistic collision between the hard-boiled detective tropes of the 1940s and the adventurous spirit of early space-age serials. To put it in perspective, Bird characterizes the project as a fusion of the cynical, atmospheric tension found in *The Maltese Falcon* paired with the pulp-adventure energy of *Buck Rogers*.
### Why This Matters for Animation
Brad Bird has long been a pioneer in pushing the boundaries of what animated storytelling can achieve. By blending the noir genre with science fiction, *Ray Gunn* promises to be a departure from the family-centric fare he is best known for. As the industry continues to see a surge in adult-oriented animation-a sector that has grown significantly in market share over the last five years-Bird’s return with such a unique, genre-bending premise is poised to be one of the most significant cultural moments of the winter season.
Welcome to the future. From the director of The Incredibles and Ratatouille comes RAY GUNN, starring Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Waits.
In select theaters December 4 and on Netflix December 18. pic.twitter.com/4r2rtjCC8v
– Netflix (@netflix) September 23, 2026
