Brad Bird's 30-Year-Old Animated Noir 'Ray Gunn' Gets Netflix Release Date

Key points

• Brad Bird directed the film, which he first conceived after hearing a B-52s song that he mistook for the 'Peter Gunn' TV theme.
• The story is set in 'Metropia,' an alternate future viewed from 1939, featuring flying cars, aliens, and a hard-boiled detective named Raymond Gunn.
• The voice cast includes Tom Waits, Patton Oswalt, Matt Berry, and Bobby Cannavale, with Bird voicing two alien henchmen.
• Bird stepped away from directing 'Incredibles 3' to focus on this project, which was produced by Skydance Animation.
• The film was originally intended for Turner Feature Animation in the 1990s but was shelved after Bird directed 'The Iron Giant'.

Background

Brad Bird is known for directing 'The Iron Giant,' 'The Incredibles,' and 'Ratatouille' at Pixar, as well as 'Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.' He previously signed a deal with Skydance Animation in 2021 to direct this project, reuniting with John Lasseter, David Ellison, and Dana Goldberg. The film's long development history includes a period where it was frozen after a studio acquisition, and Bird has described it as a blend of 'The Maltese Falcon' and 'Buck Rogers.'

How outlets are covering it

Variety and Netflix confirm the December 18 streaming release date and the December 4 theatrical premiere. Ars Technica highlights the retro-futuristic aesthetic and the voice cast, noting the film targets a slightly older demographic with mature themes. Gizmodo provides deeper insight into the production challenges, with Bird explaining that financing was the primary hurdle and that the project's unique blend of animation and live-action-style storytelling made it difficult to pitch. While Variety focuses on the industry connections and production timeline, Gizmodo emphasizes Bird's creative vision and his refusal to adapt the project into live-action, despite industry suggestions.

Why it matters

The release of 'Ray Gunn' marks a significant milestone for Brad Bird, fulfilling a long-standing creative ambition that spanned three decades. It also represents a strategic move by Netflix to diversify its animated slate beyond family-oriented content, targeting adult audiences with a mature, noir-inspired narrative. The film's production history highlights the challenges of financing unconventional animated projects in Hollywood.

What to watch

The film will have a limited 70mm theatrical run starting December 4, 2026, before its wide release on Netflix on December 18, 2026. Audiences will be able to see the full scope of Brad Bird's vision for 'Metropia' and the voice performances of the ensemble cast.