In a remarkable turn of events, director Brad Bird is finally bringing his long-cherished project, “Ray Gunn,” to fruition, over three decades after its inception. The highly anticipated animated film makes its theatrical debut on 4 December before transitioning to the Netflix streaming platform on 18 December.
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Bird, whose impressive track record includes acclaimed films such as “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille,” has expressed his satisfaction with the project. “It’s very gratifying to finally have it come out,” he told PEOPLE. Now 69 years old, Bird has poured his heart into “Ray Gunn,” a futuristic noir tale that depicts the adventures of private investigator Raymond Gunn, voiced by Sam Rockwell, as he delves into a case involving a pop music sensation, voiced by Scarlett Johansson.
The concept for “Ray Gunn” dates back to the 1990s. Initially, Bird sought to develop this detective narrative at Turner Feature Animation. However, as management changes and other unforeseen circumstances, including the pandemic, arose, it became increasingly difficult to find a suitable home for the film. In 2021, Bird finally found a partner in Skydance Animation, which allowed him to realise his vision.
Reflecting on the challenges of getting the film off the ground, Bird remarked, “You would get some indication that it might work out this time and then the management would change or the pandemic happens. There’s always many sane reasons not to make a movie.” He elaborated, sharing that successful films often go through a difficult birth process that requires a certain level of madness, or, as he put it, “What you are looking for is somebody who’s crazy enough to make a movie.”
While “Ray Gunn” marks the culmination of a long journey for Bird, he is not yet considering the expansion of its universe into sequels or spin-offs. When asked about potential future projects related to the film, he light-heartedly responded, “Oh my God, it took me decades to get this one. Don’t do this to me. Give me a moment to heal.”
During a recent Q&A session in New York, Bird reflected on his earlier attempts to develop the project at Turner Animation, which ultimately shifted its focus after being acquired by Time Warner. He recounted, “They didn’t want to make it. When [Time Warner] switched over, they didn’t want to make it, and they had three months of my contract left.” Instead, Bird was encouraged to explore other ideas and chose to pivot to his directorial debut, “The Iron Giant,” which featured voices from Vin Diesel and Jennifer Aniston.
Despite his busy career, including directing the “Incredibles” sequels and “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” Bird always harboured great affection for “Ray Gunn.” He described it as a blend of “The Maltese Falcon” and “Buck Rogers,” noting that while it took a long time to come to fruition, the film’s mature themes around belonging and alienation resonate with audiences today.
Bird believes that ideas don’t lose their worth simply because they take time to develop. “An idea doesn’t become bad instantly because it didn’t get made right away,” he stated, adding that sometimes the right individuals simply need to become involved in the project.
“Ray Gunn” features a talented voice cast that includes Tom Waits, Bobby Cannavale, Michelle Rodriguez, Alan Tudyk, and Patton Oswalt. As the film prepares to make its debut, Bird’s enthusiasm for sharing this multifaceted story with the world underscores the dedication and passion he brings to his craft.
With “Ray Gunn” set to hit select theatres on 4 December and later stream on Netflix, both fans of Bird’s work and newcomers to his storytelling will undoubtedly be eager to immerse themselves in this richly conceived animated noir.
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