Netflix unveils trailer for upcoming sci-fi film by Oscar-winning director.

Netflix has just dropped the first trailer for *Ray Gunn*, an animated film directed by Academy Award winner Brad Bird, known for his work on *The Incredibles*, *The Iron Giant*, and *Ratatouille*. Set in a retro-futuristic city called Metropia, *Ray Gunn* follows private investigator Raymond Gunn, voiced by Sam Rockwell, as he navigates a murder mystery involving multimedia sensation Venus Nova, played by Scarlett Johansson.

Get ready for the sci-fi noir vibes of *Ray Gunn* alongside other genre classics.

Produced by Skydance Animation, *Ray Gunn* marks Bird’s return to the director’s chair after *Incredibles 2*, which became the highest-grossing Pixar film globally before being overtaken by *Inside Out 2*. The trailer hints at a fresh narrative direction for Bird, blending elements of hard-boiled detective tales with sci-fi mystery and future noir—described by Bird as “The Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers.”

“It wasn’t a Pixar movie, and that wasn’t a judgment against Pixar,” Bird explained in an interview. “I wanted it to have its own flavor that was a little different and I wanted it to have an edge that I thought people might not be as enthusiastic for over there.”

The trailer showcases the classic beats of a sci-fi detective story, featuring action, sharp one-liners, a compelling mystery, and a tumultuous love story. Although this marks Bird’s return after eight years, he has been developing the concept since 1996, when he penned the initial script.

The cast for *Ray Gunn* also includes Alan Tudyk, Matt Berry, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Chernus, Kether Donohue, Michelle Rodriguez, Aasif Mandvi, Matt Jones, Kathryn Hunter, John Ratzenberger, Justin Peck, and Patton Oswalt.

Since its presentation at the Annecy Film Festival, Bird successfully convinced Netflix to give *Ray Gunn* a theatrical release. The film will hit select theaters and limited 70mm on December 4, before streaming on Netflix starting December 18, coinciding with the release of *Avengers: Doomsday*. Competing for attention during the holiday season will be a challenge for *Ray Gunn*, but its availability on streaming should help it stand out against Marvel’s latest blockbuster and *Dune: Part 3*, also debuting on December 18.