Brad Bird’s long-awaited animated detective adventure Ray Gunn has reached a major milestone: its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 10, 2026. The new film blends science fiction with the smoky atmosphere of an old-fashioned mystery, and it brings together a voice cast led by Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson.
Netflix’s publicity team announced the premiere and shared links to film stills, teaser artwork and red-carpet photographs. The film is scheduled to reach select theaters December 4, including limited 70mm screenings, before streaming on Netflix December 18, 2026.
A detective story in a city of tomorrow
The story unfolds in Metropia, an enormous city that imagines the future through a 1939 lens. Private investigator Raymond Gunn gets pulled into a mystery involving aliens, murder and celebrity Venus Nova. It’s a different flavor of animation from the director of The Incredibles and Ratatouille: retro-futuristic, mysterious and steeped in film-noir style.
Rockwell voices Raymond Gunn, while Johansson plays Venus Nova. Tom Waits, Alan Tudyk, Matt Berry, Bobby Cannavale, Michelle Rodriguez, Patton Oswalt and John Ratzenberger are among the additional performers named in Netflix’s announcement. Michael Giacchino composed the music.
What happened at the premiere?
According to the October 10 publicity announcement, Bird attended the London premiere alongside Rockwell and Johansson. Composer Giacchino, Netflix Film chairman Dan Lin and Netflix feature-animation head Hannah Minghella were also listed among attendees.
The festival appearance is the latest step for a project Bird has been developing for years. The BFI’s official festival announcement includes Ray Gunn among its world premieres, while Netflix’s fall film guide confirms the December streaming date and principal cast.
Is Ray Gunn a movie for kids?
Animation doesn’t automatically mean a movie is aimed at young children. Ray Gunn revolves around a murder mystery and noir-inspired crime story, so parents should review the trailer and any official age guidance before planning a family movie night. Its appeal may be strongest for older animation fans and viewers who enjoy science-fiction mysteries.
When can you watch Ray Gunn?
December 4, 2026: Select theatrical screenings, with limited 70mm presentations. December 18, 2026: Netflix streaming debut. Theater locations and availability may vary.
For the latest release information, visit the official Netflix Media Center listing.
Source: Netflix Animated Film Publicity announcement received October 10, 2026; festival and release details cross-checked against BFI and Netflix.