Director Brad Bird, known for The Incredibles and Ratatouille, offered a glimpse into his upcoming animated film, Ray Gunn, at San Diego Comic-Con. During a spotlight panel, Bird debuted the first seven minutes of the Netflix release and elaborated on the movie's unique aesthetic and narrative.
Bird described his elevator pitch for Ray Gunn as "Buck Rogers meets The Maltese Falcon," characterizing it as a story about "desperate characters in an alternate future." The initial footage showcases the film's setting, Metropia, a futuristic metropolis defined by towering, illuminated structures and aerial vehicles. This vision blends a science-fiction future with an art deco and 1930s noir sensibility, reminiscent of a mashup between Coruscant and the Gotham City from Batman: The Animated Series. The visuals feature flying cars with art deco influences, businessmen utilizing jetpacks to navigate the city while carrying briefcases, and construction workers using similar devices to move around building sites.
The presented scenes followed Eyera, a lanky, one-eyed green alien voiced by Tom Waits, as he pays someone for a janitor's uniform to infiltrate an office. Inside, it is revealed that the title character, Ray Gunn, a square-jawed and sardonic hero, is hidden within a trash can, accompanied by his companion Eyera. The narrative delves into a noir-infused search for secret files, which is interrupted by the arrival of a competing alien duo and the owner of the office, a large, imposing female alien. This character is revealed to have a prior connection to Ray. A fight ensues, during which Ray incapacitates her by encasing her head in ice using a freeze ray. Despite Eyera's urgings to flee, Ray chooses to stay and free her from the ice, leading to a comedic sequence where they repeatedly bash her head against the ice to break it.
Bird noted that Ray Gunn has been in development for approximately 30 years, stating, "I would have happily made it a long time ago, but you need someone to pay for it." He reiterated his long-held belief in the project's potential.
The director emphasized the meticulous construction of Metropia, the film's primary setting. He described the city as "sci-fi but very urban," with animators packing each frame with intricate details for viewers to discover. The film's score is composed by Michael Giacchino, who has collaborated with Bird on all his previous films. Giacchino, who made a surprise appearance at the panel, explained that his musical approach blended elements of '50s sci-fi, '30s and '40s noir, and jazz. His main objective was to ensure the score felt distinct from The Incredibles, while acknowledging his enjoyment of Bird's tendency to explore new creative directions. "At its core, [Ray Gunn has] a very emotional score but it has a lot of action, a lot of fun, and hopefully is its own thing," Giacchino added.
Ray Gunn is scheduled to debut on Netflix on December 18, 2026.