Brad Bird’s ‘Ray Gunn’ Welcomes Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Waits to the Voice Cast – First Preview
Netflix and Skydance Animation have officially revealed details about their upcoming animated feature, Ray Gunn. Directed by two-time Academy Award winner Brad Bird, known for acclaimed films such as The Incredibles and Ratatouille, the film will feature the voices of notable actors Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Waits.
The streaming service also shared first-look images from the film.
Originally conceived as a passion project for Bird, Ray Gunn transports audiences to Metropia, a sprawling city envisioned in 1939’s alternate future. The story follows private investigator Raymond Gunn, voiced by Rockwell, as he navigates a case involving extraterrestrials, murder, and a multimedia star named Venus Nova, brought to life by Johansson.
“Ray Gunn has been in my mind for over 30 years,” Bird explained in a director’s statement. “The film is a blend of sci-fi and classic detective movies from the ’40s…it’s The Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers. I’ve been a fan of both those genres, and blending them together seemed fun, offering a chance to play with many cinematic elements and extreme characters.”
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Bird expressed his hope to reach audiences who typically overlook animation, stating, “There’s a big chunk of people who don’t watch animation. That’s a group I’m anxious to persuade because it’s an amazing art form that is way too limited in people’s minds. Animation as a medium is too interesting to limit what kind of stories can be told.”
Johansson, coming off her success in Jurassic World: Rebirth and with roles in the new Exorcist film, shared her enthusiasm for collaborating with Bird. “Having the opportunity to collaborate with Brad Bird is a career milestone for me; I have loved his work my entire life. This project is uniquely special because it is a total realization of where Brad is currently on his artistic journey. I can’t wait for audiences to see this extraordinary animation that looks like nothing else out there,” she stated.
Brad Bird directed Ray Gunn from a script co-written with Matthew Robbins, based on Bird’s original story. Producers for the project include John Lasseter, Bird, Lisa Beroud, David Ellison, and Dana Goldberg. The film is scheduled for release later this year.
