Ray Gunn (2026)

After more than three decades of pitching, Oscar‑winner Brad Bird’s long‑gestating animated thriller “Ray Gunn” is set to debut on Netflix on Dec. 18. The studio even hosted a secretive press showcase at its Burbank HQ in July, giving attendees a sneak peek at the first half hour of the film starring Sam Rockwell as gumshoe Raymond Gunn and Scarlett Johansson as the enigmatic starlet Venus Nova. Far from a typical family cartoon, “Ray Gunn” is a stylish neo‑noir set in the retro‑futuristic metropolis of Metropia, where a private eye gets tangled in a case involving aliens, murder and high‑gloss celebrity intrigue. Though rated PG, Bird insists the movie is aimed at older audiences, rejecting the notion that animation must be made for five‑year‑olds. The director also used the event to voice his cautious optimism about AI in filmmaking. While he finds the idea of AI training on his body of work “disturbing,” Bird believes the technology can be a useful tool for artists and a way to lower budgets, potentially freeing studios from the ruthless math that forces them to recycle proven formulas. He hopes that financial flexibility will let more daring, original stories like “Ray Gunn” finally see the light of day.

Ray Gunn, the upcoming animated sci‑fi flick starring Scarlett Johansson, plunges viewers into a neon‑lit metropolis where sleek Art Deco skyscrapers meet flying cars and holograms. The neo‑retro aesthetic—rich with 1920s‑30s luxury and a gritty, machine‑run underbelly—has sparked immediate comparisons to the iconic world of BioShock, even though director Brad Bird never cited the game as a source. At its heart, the film is a detective noir. Johansson’s character, Raymond, is the last human sleuth tasked with solving a murder in a society where machines have largely replaced investigators. While the premise leans into classic noir tropes—a criminal underworld, a nihilistic cityscape, and a morally grounded protagonist—the tone stays family‑friendly, earning a PG rating that sets it apart from BioShock’s mature, graphic content. After a brief theatrical window in December, Ray Gunn will debut on Netflix, positioning it as a quieter 2026 follow‑up to Johansson’s blockbuster‑filled 2025, which included Jurassic World: Rebirth, The Phoenician Scheme, and her directorial debut Elanor the Great. If the striking visuals and mystery‑driven plot live up to the buzz, the movie could become a standout entry in the growing catalog of BioShock‑adjacent storytelling.

Scarlett Johansson returns to the screen in December with Ray Gunn, an animated sci‑fi thriller that will enjoy a brief theatrical window before heading to Netflix. The film follows Raymond Gunn, the last human detective in a bustling metropolis shared by humans and aliens, as he unravels a murder mystery in a world where machines have taken over most police work. Director Brad Bird leans heavily into an Art Deco aesthetic, giving the city a sleek, neon‑lit vibe that fans instantly recognize as a land‑based cousin of BioShock’s iconic underwater setting. Flying cars, holographic billboards and towering, glamorous architecture blend 1920s‑30s luxury with futuristic tech, creating a neo‑retro playground that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Beyond the eye‑catching visuals, Ray Gunn embraces classic detective noir tropes. While the tone is lighter and family‑friendly – the film carries a PG rating – the story still carries a gritty undercurrent, with a criminal underbelly and a morally complex protagonist. The comparison to BioShock’s own noir‑ish narrative, where players piece together a mystery through audio logs, adds an extra layer of intrigue for gamers and cinephiles alike. After a 30‑year development cycle, the project finally surfaces, and early reactions to the trailer suggest Johansson’s venture could become a standout entry in the growing catalog of video‑game‑inspired cinema. If it captures the atmospheric depth of its gaming counterpart, Ray Gunn may prove that an animated, family‑oriented noir can sit comfortably alongside the more violent, M‑rated BioShock adaptations.

At AFI Fest, director Brad Bird treated the future of his animated neo‑noir thriller Ray Gunn like a fine meal: you savor the flavors, then move on. He told reporters, "I prefer to pour all my efforts into the movie we're making without assuming everyone's going to want more," underscoring his belief that a film should stand on its own rather than be tethered to a franchise. Bird’s stance echoes his career‑long reluctance to chase sequels—think The Iron Giant and Ratatouille—yet he left the door ajar for other storytellers. He said the conversation about expanding the Ray Gunn universe is “open rather than locked,” meaning if the characters and setting prove compelling, a future filmmaker could pick up the thread. The film’s star‑studded voice cast—Sam Rockwell as the gumshoe detective, Scarlett Johansson as the dazzling Venus Nova, plus Tom Waits, Matt Berry, Bobby Cannavale, Michelle Rodríguez and Alan Tudyk—has helped the movie feel like a living, breathing city. Critics responded in kind, awarding Ray Gunn a 94% Certified Fresh rating at its BFI London debut and praising its blend of classic detective tropes with striking animation and atmospheric voice‑over. Produced in just a few years, Ray Gunn’s tight development cycle gives Bird room to consider spin‑offs without the long‑haul pressure of traditional sequels. While he declined to reveal any concrete plans, his emphasis on “present storytelling” reassures fans that any future expansion will grow organically, not from a rushed cash‑grab.