The First Trailer for Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn Drops Us Into a Futuristic Noir Mystery
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Phil Roberts 
Get ready to blast off into a dazzling futuristic noir world, because the first trailer for Brad Bird’s brand-new animated bonanza, Ray Gunn, has officially arrived—and it looks like Netflix is preparing to serve up one seriously stylish sci-fi adventure!
At long last, the first trailer for Brad Bird’s upcoming animated adventure, Ray Gunn, has emerged from the shadows at Netflix. This futuristic noir detective adventure is heading to select cinemas on December 4 before making its way to the streamer on December 18. But today, Netflix is giving us our first proper glimpse at the neon-drenched world that awaits—and, quite frankly, it looks gorgeous.
Set against a dazzling future packed with hard-boiled detectives, high-tech gadgets, larger-than-life characters, and enough neon to illuminate an entire city, Ray Gunn promises to blend classic film noir with Brad Bird’s unmistakable animation style. The result looks like a gloriously retro-futuristic cocktail of mystery, action, comedy, and sci-fi spectacle.
And if this first trailer is anything to go by, Ray Gunn could be an absolute treat for animation and sci-fi fans. With Bird back behind the animated wheel, this could be one December release worth keeping firmly on the radar. Now, enough chatter—hit play and step into the neon!
SYNOPSIS
In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.
CAST & CREW
Brad Bird has assembled a seriously impressive dream team of talent to bring his futuristic vision to life. Leading the voice cast are Hollywood heavyweights Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson, who lend their voices to Raymond Gunn and Venus Nova, respectively.
But they certainly aren’t flying solo. Joining them is an eclectic ensemble of talent including Tom Waits, 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.
Behind the scenes, Bird has reunited with longtime collaborator John Lasseter, who joins the production team alongside Lisa Beroud, David Ellison, and Dana Goldberg, producing for Skydance Animation. Bird directs from a screenplay co-written with Matthew Robbins, while another of his longtime collaborators, Michael Giacchino, is on board to compose the film’s score.
With that much talent packed into one project, Ray Gunn is shaping up to be quite the animated spectacle. A Brad Bird adventure, a stellar voice cast, a noir-inspired sci-fi world, and a Michael Giacchino score? Yeah, Netflix, you officially have our attention.
POSTER
As if that awesome Blade Runner-esque trailer wasn’t enough, Netflix has also unveiled the film’s first poster—and this glorious one-sheet screams futuristic noir from top to bottom.
Featuring Raymond Gunn and Venus Nova alongside Gunn’s mysterious alien sidekick, the poster places the trio against the breathtaking backdrop of the colossal city of Metropia. Drenched in neon and packed with towering futuristic architecture, the artwork perfectly captures the retro-futuristic atmosphere that makes Ray Gunn look so damn irresistible.
Take a look at the glossy new one-sheet below and prepare to lose yourself in the dazzling world of Metropia. If the movie looks half as good as this poster, we could be in for one seriously stylish animated adventure!
RELEASE
What a phenomenal first trailer! Brad Bird’s work on The Incredibles cemented his status as one of animation’s most distinctive visionaries, and he appears to be bringing that same boundless energy and imagination to Ray Gunn. From the glorious atmosphere to the sumptuous futuristic city of Metropia, the film is quite literally a feast for the eyes. Throw in a retro-noir detective story, a stellar voice cast, and a healthy dose of sci-fi spectacle, and Netflix may have a genuine gem on its hands this winter.
Better still, Ray Gunn is getting a limited big-screen release on December 4, with screenings available in both standard and 70mm formats. So, if you have the opportunity, get ready to experience Brad Bird’s dazzling new world on the biggest screen possible. Then, on December 18, the film will make the jump to Netflix, delivering an early Christmas present for animation and sci-fi fans everywhere.
And there’s even more good news for UK fans! Ray Gunn will also be screening as part of the BFI London Film Festival in October, and the Future of the Force team will be there to experience it firsthand. With two members of our team accredited for this year’s festival, you can expect our early review of this dazzling new adventure to land right here.
So, as the London Film Festival rolls into town, keep your eyes locked on Future of the Force. We’ll be bringing you the latest news, reviews, interviews, and plenty more from the festival—and you certainly won’t want to miss what we have in store for Ray Gunn!
Sign up for our emails and stay tuned. The future is looking gloriously neon!
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
