‘Ray Gunn’ Second Trailer Plunges Into Brad Bird’s Retrofuturistic Noir City of Metropia

Few unmade animated projects have loomed as large as Brad Bird’s ‘Ray Gunn.‘ Bird has spent more than a quarter century trying to make the film, which blends film noir imagery with classic sci-fi elements. After years of false starts, the long-gestating passion project is finally within reach of audiences.

‘Ray Gunn’ will be Bird’s first animated film made outside of Pixar since ‘The Iron Giant’ in 1999. That alone makes the release a notable moment for fans of the director behind ‘The Incredibles’ and ‘Ratatouille.’

Netflix has now released a second trailer for the film, giving viewers a longer look at its world. The new trailer flies straight into Metropia, where humans and aliens live side by side, flying cars speed through the skies and buildings stretch a mile high. The new footage also shows a shopkeeper selling Gunn a very cool teleportation ray gun.

The trailer clocks in at about 2 and a half minutes. It reveals more of Metropia’s skyline and bustling streets, building on the first look Netflix released in September. For anyone curious about the tone, it leans hard into the retro-future aesthetic.

A new trailer for Brad Bird’s ‘RAY GUNN’ has been released. In select theaters on December 4 and Netflix on December 18. https://t.co/Z6YcVmKjiX

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) November 12, 2026

Netflix’s synopsis describes Metropia as a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, where private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova. The setup draws on classic detective stories, but with a science-fiction twist.

Sam Rockwell voices the title character, with Scarlett Johansson and Tom Waits also leading the voice cast. The supporting voice actors include Alan Tudyk, Matt Berry, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Chernus, Kether Donohue, Michelle Rodriguez, Aasif Mandvi, Matt Jones, Kathryn Hunter, John Ratzenberger, Justin Peck and Patton Oswalt.

Bird isn’t working alone. He directs from his own original story and a screenplay he wrote with Matthew Robbins, with John Lasseter, Bird, Lisa Beroud, David Ellison and Dana Goldberg producing for Skydance Animation. He signed on to direct back in 2022.

The music comes from a familiar collaborator. Michael Giacchino, who scored ‘The Fantastic Four,’ ‘Tomorrowland’ and ‘The Incredibles’ for Bird, composed the score for ‘Ray Gunn.’ Bird has also emphasized that the film isn’t necessarily a children’s movie, and it has been rated PG for violence, action, language, some suggestive material and thematic elements.

The film has already screened for audiences. It premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on October 10, and the early reaction has been favorable. What’s on Netflix calls it a Certified Fresh animated noir, and one outlet’s review awarded it 4 stars, praising the voice performances from Rockwell and Johansson.

Not every response has been glowing. One Netflix-focused review described it as mesmerizing but safe. That mix of praise and mild reservation is common for a film this anticipated, and it suggests the movie is stylish and accomplished even if it doesn’t take big swings.

The release plan is unusual for a streaming film. The film hits select theaters and limited 70mm screens on December 4 before streaming on Netflix on December 18. That gives cinephiles a chance to see it on the big screen first.

The Netflix date also lands on a crowded day. ComicBook notes that ‘Ray Gunn’ will be on Netflix the same day Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ hits theaters, which it frames as Netflix’s counterprogramming. It’s a bold choice, though the 2 films are aimed at very different viewers.

‘Ray Gunn’ is part of a growing slate of animated features at the streamer. The slate includes the most popular Netflix film ever, ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ and Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning ‘Pinocchio.’ It also includes Oscar-nominated films like ‘Nimona,’ ‘The Sea Beast’ and ‘Klaus.’

That gives Bird’s film some strong company and some high expectations. Netflix has made animation a major part of its strategy, and a director with Bird’s track record is a major get. The question is whether ‘Ray Gunn’ can find the same audience as the platform’s biggest hits.

With the second trailer out and the release dates close, the marketing push for ‘Ray Gunn’ is in full swing. The film runs 119 minutes, giving it room to explore the world of Metropia in depth. Fans will find out soon how it compares to Bird’s earlier work.

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