Brad Bird’s ‘Ray Gunn’ Is Finally Happening — and Voice Recording Has Already Started

Last December, I reported that — despite persistent rumors — Brad Bird would not be directing “Incredibles 3.” The reason is simple: Bird has been busy shooting his long-gestating passion project, “Ray Gunn.”

Yes, “Ray Gunn” — the sci-fi noir he’s been trying to make for nearly 30 years — is finally in production. After years in limbo, Netflix stepped in as the only studio willing to back its hefty $150 million budget. Production began last year, and from what I’ve heard, a release as soon as next year isn’t out of the question.

The latest update comes from a “Bug’s Life” reunion panel at FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention, where Pixar veteran John Ratzenberger (the voice actor who’s appeared in nearly every Pixar film since the original “Toy Story”) revealed that he’s already recorded dialogue for the film.

Last I heard, “Ray Gunn” would not be completed in its originally intended hand-drawn animation style. Instead, it appears the film is moving forward in CGI, likely a practical decision given the scale and budget of the project.

When Brad Bird hits, he really hits. I’m talking “The Iron Giant,” “Ratatouille,” “The Incredibles,” and even his live-action outing, “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol.” Sure, he has a reputation for being uncompromising and difficult to collaborate with, but many great artists are.

“Ray Gunn” itself has a long history. Originally developed with co-writer Matthew Robbins in the 1990s, it tells the story of Raymund Gunn, the last human private detective in a futuristic world filled with both humans and aliens. The project was briefly revived at Skydance Animation in 2022 under John Lasseter — Bird’s longtime friend — before making its way to Netflix through Skydance’s multi-year deal. Composer Michael Giacchino, another frequent Bird collaborator, is also said to be attached.

That “Ray Gunn” is actually happening feels like a minor miracle. According to THR, Apple walked away from its deal with Skydance in 2024 partly because it saw some of the films as too expensive or creatively shaky — with “Ray Gunn” specifically cited as a dealbreaker. Netflix has since taken over, giving Bird’s decades-old vision a real shot at the screen.

Brad Bird is a true visionary — even if we’d all prefer to forget “Tomorrowland.”