Trailer Reveals Sci-Fi Noir World
A first look at Ray Gunn has arrived from Netflix. The movie is a science fiction mystery in the neo-noir vein, helmed by Brad Bird. At its center are Raymond Gunn, a detective in the private eye mold played by Sam Rockwell, and Venus Nova, a singing star brought to life by Scarlett Johansson whose scandal threatens both her livelihood and her survival. The preview shows Gunn's future home, a place shared by people and extraterrestrials. With Eyera, his alien partner voiced by Tom Waits, Gunn investigates a mystery tangled in scandal. Patton Oswalt, Kathryn Hunter, John Ratzenberger and Jamie Costa round out the cast.[S1]
A Long Road to Production
For Bird, this film has been a lengthy endeavor. His original inspiration came in 1989, when he saw a trailer for the forthcoming Peter Gunn. Turner Feature Animation was set to make it during the 1990s, yet the plan fell apart once Bird went on to helm The Iron Giant in 1999 for Warner Bros. Then in 2021, Bird reached an agreement with Skydance Animation to direct Ray Gunn, which put him back alongside John Lasseter. While Lasseter was at Pixar, Bird both wrote and directed The Incredibles, Ratatouille and Incredibles 2. The film likewise brought Bird together again with David Ellison and Dana Goldberg, both of whom were at Skydance Media when Bird directed Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.[S1]
Production Team and Release Date
Bird, Lasseter, Ellison, Goldberg and Lisa Beroud serve as producers on the film. Bird eventually stepped away from Pixar's upcoming Incredibles 3, set for 2028, to focus on Ray Gunn. He was replaced by Peter Sohn, known for The Good Dinosaur and Elemental. Ray Gunn will be released on Netflix on Dec. 18.[S1]
