Quick summary
- Sam Rockwell voices private detective Raymond “Ray” Gunn in Ray Gunn, an animated noir directed by Brad Bird.
- Netflix says the film opens in select theatres, including a limited 70mm run, on 4 December 2026.
- It then streams globally on Netflix on 18 December, according to Netflix’s own Tudum site.
- Scarlett Johansson voices the pop megastar Venus Nova, and Tom Waits plays Ray’s alien partner.
The Sam Rockwell Ray Gunn film is a retro-futuristic detective story from The Incredibles director Brad Bird. Netflix published a new trailer on 12 November, and the film reaches select cinemas on 4 December before arriving on the streamer two weeks later.
What the new trailer shows
According to Netflix’s Tudum, the story is set in Metropia, a retrofuturistic city where humans and aliens live side by side. Rockwell’s Ray investigates a murder and a trail of corruption, and the search leads him into the circle around Venus Nova, one of the city’s biggest stars.
Tudum describes a world where “pry bots” do most of the legwork, which leaves Ray and his partner among the few investigators still working on foot. That partner is Eye-Ra, a one-eyed alien voiced by Tom Waits. The film is rated PG and runs 1 hour 59 minutes, Netflix says.
An earlier teaser, covered on 23 September by What’s on Netflix, ran just under two and a half minutes. It showed hover-bike chases, blasters and a character being framed for murder.
A voice cast built around Rockwell
Johansson plays Venus Nova, whom What’s on Netflix describes as emotional and allegedly violent within the story. Matt Berry voices Francis “Slugsy” Xavier, and Bird himself voices two of Slugsy’s alien henchmen.
The same outlet lists further names added later: Alan Tudyk, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Chernus, Kether Donohue, Michelle Rodriguez, Aasif Mandvi, Matt Jones, Kathryn Hunter, John Ratzenberger, Justin Peck and Patton Oswalt, who appears as a hologram. It is an unusually deep bench for an animated feature.
For Rockwell, it is another distinctive voice and character role. You can follow his other projects on our Sam Rockwell page, and our earlier post on Rockwell voicing Ray Gunn in the Netflix trailer covers the first look.
Why the release plan matters
A limited 70mm run is rare for an animated film. What’s on Netflix says Netflix has confirmed such engagements, though neither source I read gives screen numbers or locations. The film is a Skydance Animation production, and the site reports that Bird has tried to make it for more than 30 years.
The film also screened twice at the London Film Festival, on 10 and 17 October, according to the same report. Netflix is also reportedly submitting the song “Too Much To Ask”, performed by Johansson, for Oscar consideration in the original song category. That detail is attributed there to Variety, and I have not confirmed it independently.
What happens next
The sequence is simple: select theatres and limited 70mm on 4 December, then Netflix worldwide on 18 December. Australian cinema listings and local 70mm venues have not been announced in the sources I read, so check with your local cinema. For more film coverage, see our Movies section.
Frequently asked questions
Who does Sam Rockwell play in Ray Gunn?
He voices Raymond “Ray” Gunn, a small-time private detective in the city of Metropia who is drawn into a murder case.
When can I watch Ray Gunn?
Netflix says it opens in select theatres, with a limited 70mm run, on 4 December 2026 and streams on Netflix from 18 December.
Who else is in the cast?
Scarlett Johansson plays Venus Nova and Tom Waits voices Eye-Ra. Matt Berry, Alan Tudyk, Bobby Cannavale and Patton Oswalt are also credited.
Is Ray Gunn suitable for children?
It is rated PG. It is a detective noir with chases, blasters and a murder plot, so parents may want to preview the trailer.
