Netflix has released the first look at the upcoming animated feature film, “Ray Gunn”. The film is directed by two-time Academy Award winner Brad Bird who also directed “Ratatouille” and “The Incredibles”. Along with the first look at the film, the streaming giant has also announced that Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Waits have joined the voiced cast.

“Ray Gunn” is being produced by Skydance Animation. It takes place in Metropia, a fictional gigantic city set in an alternate future as seen from 1939. There we’ll meet private eye Raymond Gunn, who is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder, and a multimedia star named Venus Nova. The film is set to be released sometime this year.

The screenplay is also by Bird along with Matthew Robbins. Bird is also a producer on the film along with John Lasseter, Lisa Bird, and David Ellison. Dana Goldberg is producing for Skydance Animation.

COMMENTS FROM BIRD AND JOHANSSON ON “RAY GUNN”

“‘Ray Gunn’ has been in my mind for over 30 years. The film is a blend of sci-fi and classic detective movies from the ’40s. It’s Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers”, said Bird. “I’ve been a fan of both of those sort of genres, and blending them together seemed fun, and a chance to play with a lot of very cinematic elements, and extreme characters.”

“Having the opportunity to collaborate with Brad Bird is a career milestone for me; I have loved his work my entire life,” commented Johansson who voices Venus Nova. “This project is so uniquely special because it is a total realization of where Brad is currently on his artistic journey. I can’t wait for audiences to see this extraordinary animation that looks like nothing else out there.”

‘Ray Gunn’ follows a line of very successful animated features at Netflix. These include Academy Awards like “KPop Demon Hunters” and “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”.