Director of The Incredibles and Iron Giant Offers Sneak Peek at His Upcoming Sci-Fi Epic

Skydance Animation and Netflix have unveiled a sneak peek at the upcoming *Ray Gunn*, the latest sci-fi adventure from director Brad Bird. While his filmography may not be extensive, Bird has crafted a number of beloved animated classics, including *The Iron Giant*, *The Incredibles*, and *Ratatouille*. With *Ray Gunn* set for a 2026 release, it marks Bird’s return to the big screen since *Incredibles 2* debuted in 2018.

The journey to *Ray Gunn* has been a long one, as Bird first penned the script back in 1996, the same year he began work on *The Iron Giant*. The story unfolds in Metropia, a retro-futuristic city, and centers on private investigator Raymond Gunn, voiced by Sam Rockwell. His latest case involves a mix of aliens, murder, and a multimedia star named Venus Nova, as described in the film’s official synopsis.

“Ray Gunn has been in my mind for over 30 years,” Bird shared in a statement. “The film combines elements of sci-fi and classic detective films from the ’40s… think *The Maltese Falcon* meets *Buck Rogers*. I’ve always loved both genres, and merging them offers a chance to explore a variety of cinematic elements and larger-than-life characters.”

Although a trailer hasn’t been released yet, Skydance and Netflix have shared some images from the film, which are available for viewing below.

Production on *Ray Gunn* kicked off in 2022, reuniting Bird with his former Pixar colleague and producer John Lasseter, who departed Pixar and Disney in 2018 amid allegations of misconduct. The production team also includes Lisa Beroud, David Ellison, and Dana Goldberg, with Scarlett Johansson voicing Venus Nova and Tom Waits as Eyera, among others in the cast.

“Collaborating with Brad Bird is a career milestone for me,” Johansson expressed. “This project is incredibly special as it reflects where Brad is on his artistic journey. I can’t wait for audiences to experience this extraordinary animation that stands out from anything else out there.”

*Ray Gunn* is set to premiere on Netflix in 2026.