Ray Gunn: Brad Bird's detective adventure arrives in December
Netflix has announced Ray Gunn for 18 December: a private detective, the city of Metropia and a future imagined through the eyes of 1939.
A private detective, a vast city and a future imagined through the eyes of 1939: that is the premise of Ray Gunn. Netflix has announced a worldwide release date of 18 December 2026 for Brad Bird's animated film. The premiere is still some way off, but the concept already promises an intriguing combination of science fiction and detective fiction.
Metropia: the future through the eyes of the past
The story follows private detective Raymond Gunn in the sprawling city of Metropia. He becomes embroiled in a case involving aliens, murder and multimedia star Venus Nova. Netflix describes the setting as an alternative future imagined from the perspective of 1939.
That premise offers scope for a visual world quite different from today's visions of the future. Rather than wondering what the next phone will look like, we are interested in how the film might combine an old-fashioned detective atmosphere with a world where the usual rules no longer apply. These are our expectations based on the announcement, not a review of a film we have already seen.
Brad Bird and a familiar voice cast
The film is being produced by Skydance Animation and directed by Brad Bird. The announced voice cast includes Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson and Tom Waits. The official announcement does not reveal every detail of the case, so we will have to wait for more information about the characters and the plot.
Why it is on our radar
Animation is particularly interesting when it does more than imitate what could be filmed with a camera. A city built around a different vision of the future can become an important part of the narrative: its architecture, light and everyday rhythms tell us what kind of world the detective inhabits.
With Ray Gunn, we are therefore more interested in the city's character than its sheer size. Will Metropia be merely a spectacular backdrop, or a place we can recognise from a single shot? The film will provide the answer. For now, we have a good reason to put it on our December watchlist.
When can we expect it?
According to Netflix's current announcement, the worldwide premiere is scheduled for 18 December 2026. This is the distributor's announced release date, not confirmation that the film is already available.
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This article was created with the assistance of AI.
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