Brad Bird’s ‘Ray Gunn’ premieres at London Film Festival; Netflix sets December release
Brad Bird’s long-gestating animated feature “Ray Gunn,” his first film since “Incredibles 2,” has premiered at the 2026 London Film Festival. Netflix will open it in theaters Dec. 4 and stream it from Dec. 18.
The premiere: “Ray Gunn” had its debut at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival, which runs through Oct. 18, Deadline and Variety reported. It is Bird’s first feature since “Incredibles 2.”
The story: Set in the retro-futurist city of Metropia, the film follows private detective Ray Gunn (Sam Rockwell), who is hired to protect music star Venus Nova (Scarlett Johansson), according to Deadline and Variety. The voice cast also includes Tom Waits, Alan Tudyk, Matt Berry, Bobby Cannavale, Michelle Rodriguez, Patton Oswalt and John Ratzenberger, among others.
Thirty years in the making: Bird first developed the project at Turner in the 1990s, Deadline reported. It was shelved after the Time Warner merger, the rights eventually returned, and the film was finally made at Skydance Animation. Producers are John Lasseter, Bird, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Lisa Beroud.
Release dates: Netflix plans a theatrical release on Dec. 4, 2026, followed by streaming on Dec. 18, Deadline reported.
Bird on the film: Bird told Deadline the idea stayed with him over the years, and that he wants to make entertainment that engages audiences on multiple levels rather than aiming only at five-year-olds.