Brad Bird has weighed in on whether his upcoming Netflix animated film Ray Gunn could get a follow-up. The film, which stars Scarlett Johansson as a pop superstar caught in a murder case, arrives on the streaming platform on December 18, 2026. The director spoke about sequel chances on the AFI Fest red carpet in an interview with ScreenRant’s Tatiana Hullender, and his answer was careful rather than final.
What Brad Bird Said About a Ray Gunn Follow-Up
Bird explained that he does not build movies while thinking about what comes after them. His focus stays on the film in front of him.
“I don’t think about” future stories when developing his various projects, as he’d instead rather pour all of his efforts into “the movie we’re making” and never “assum[ing] that everybody’s going to want more.” — Brad Bird to ScreenRant
He used a simple comparison to describe how audiences might feel after watching the film.
“They may have one and done, like a really good meal, they just go, ‘Yum, that was good! Now, moving on to another meal.’” — Brad Bird
Even with that caution, Bird left a small door open. He said part of his creative process is to build the world and characters thoroughly enough that he or another filmmaker could do more with them later. That does not mean a sequel is planned. It means the story was designed with enough depth to support one if the interest is there.
A Director Who Rarely Returns to His Own Films
Bird’s history with sequels makes his careful answer easier to understand. He has directed several widely praised animated films, including The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille. The only sequel he has made is Incredibles 2, which took more than a decade to complete. He has repeatedly said no to follow-ups for The Iron Giant and Ratatouille.
Ray Gunn draws from noir and detective stories, including The Maltese Falcon, Chinatown, The Big Sleep, and Will Eisner’s The Spirit. Several of those sources were built as standalone stories, though some later produced sequels or long-running characters. Blade Runner, the closest genre parallel to Ray Gunn, also expanded well beyond its first film with Blade Runner 2049, the animated series Blade Runner: Black Lotus, and the upcoming Blade Runner 2099 series.
What Ray Gunn Is About
Ray Gunn is set in Metropia, a retro-futuristic city where humans and aliens live side by side. Sam Rockwell voices Raymond “Ray” Gunn, described as the last human private detective in the city. Johansson voices Venus Nova, a famous multimedia star who becomes the center of a scandal and a murder case. Ray is pulled into her world and into a larger mystery involving aliens, shady dealings, and twists.
The voice cast also includes Tom Waits, Matt Berry, Alan Tudyk, Michelle Rodriguez, Bobby Cannavale, John Ratzenberger, and Jamie Costa. Bird directed the film and co-wrote it with Matthew Robbins. Michael Giacchino composed the music.
The 30 Year Road to Release
Bird and Robbins first developed Ray Gunn in the early 1990s at Turner Feature Animation. The project stalled when Turner merged with Warner Bros., and Bird moved on to The Iron Giant. The screenplay sat unused for decades before Skydance Animation and Netflix brought it back to life.
Bird has said in interviews that he had given up on the project before it found a new home. The film had its world premiere at the 70th BFI London Film Festival on October 10, 2026, where it drew strong reviews.
Critics Have Responded Strongly
Ray Gunn holds a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with early scores in the low 90s from critics who saw it at the London premiere. Guillermo del Toro shared a public review on X after an early screening.
“RAY GUNN by Brad Bird is a marvel to behold and a great ride to experience. It is also a 100% blast in a theatrical environment.” — Guillermo del Toro on X
The film runs 119 minutes. Critics have praised its animation, voice cast, and noir tone, while some reviews have been mixed on its length.
Scarlett Johansson on Joining the Film
Johansson has said that working with Bird was the main reason she took the role. She described herself as a longtime admirer of his work and said Ray Gunn felt like a complete expression of where Bird is as an artist. Her character, Venus Nova, is a multimedia star whose public scandals put her life in danger and pull Ray Gunn into the case.
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Release Details for Global Viewers
Ray Gunn will stream on Netflix worldwide on December 18, 2026. The film will also have a limited theatrical run, including 70mm screenings, starting December 4, 2026.
- United States: Streaming on Netflix from December 18. Limited theatrical release from December 4, including 70mm screens.
- United Kingdom: Streaming on Netflix from December 18. Limited theatrical screenings from December 4.
- Canada: Streaming on Netflix from December 18. Limited theatrical release from December 3.
- Australia: Streaming on Netflix from December 18. Limited theatrical release from December 3.
- India: Streaming on Netflix from December 18. No separate theatrical window has been confirmed for the region.
- Global: Netflix release on December 18 in all markets where the service operates.
The December 18 date places Ray Gunn on the same day as two major theatrical releases: Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three. For Netflix subscribers, Ray Gunn arrives at no extra cost as part of the existing subscription.
For more Netflix release guides, animation news, and cast updates, keep reading VvipTimes.
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