Scarlett Johansson Sci-Fi Thriller Ray Gunn Premieres at London Film Festival Ahead of Netflix Release

Scarlett Johansson’s new animated science-fiction thriller Ray Gunn has made its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, introducing audiences to director Brad Bird’s futuristic detective story after more than three decades of development. The film, which also stars Sam Rockwell and Tom Waits, screened on October 10, 2026, ahead of its planned Netflix release in December.

Johansson voices Venus Nova, a famous entertainer who becomes involved in a murder investigation led by private detective Raymond Gunn, played by Rockwell. The film combines science fiction, crime mystery and classic film noir in a futuristic city inhabited by humans and aliens.

The London premiere marked a major development for Bird, who first conceived the project more than 30 years ago. The filmmaker is known for directing The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille.

Scarlett Johansson Plays Venus Nova in Ray Gunn

Johansson voices Venus Nova, a multimedia celebrity whose personal life becomes connected to a complicated criminal investigation.

The story takes place in Metropia, a large futuristic city inspired by the way people in 1939 imagined the future. Flying cars, towering buildings and alien residents are part of its everyday environment.

Raymond Gunn is a private investigator struggling to maintain his career in a society where technology has changed how investigations are conducted.

His financial problems become more serious as his detective business approaches collapse.

Gunn receives an assignment involving Venus Nova after her husband hires him to follow the entertainer. What initially appears to be a surveillance job develops into a wider investigation involving murder, secrets and corruption.

The film uses elements of traditional detective stories while introducing advanced technology and extraterrestrial characters.

Johansson’s character is central to the mystery, although the full details of Venus Nova’s involvement are revealed as the investigation progresses.

Ray Gunn Receives Its World Premiere in London

The film premiered during the 70th BFI London Film Festival on October 10.

Johansson attended the event as the production reached its first major public screening.

The premiere also gave audiences an opportunity to see Bird’s long-developed science-fiction project before its wider release.

Festival artistic director Kristy Matheson introduced the screening and discussed Bird’s work in animation.

The presentation highlighted his earlier films, including The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille.

Audience members responded with applause following the screening, according to reports from the festival.

The film has also begun receiving critical reviews, with particular attention given to its animation, visual design and combination of science fiction with traditional crime storytelling.

Some reviews have praised its ambitious visual world while raising questions about the complexity of its mystery.

Scarlett Johansson Explains Why She Joined the Film

During a discussion at the London premiere, Johansson spoke about her decision to join Ray Gunn.

Johansson said, “What attracted me was Brad, actually. I really was so excited to work with Brad. I’m such a massive fan of his.”

She explained that collaborating with Bird had been a professional goal and that she was interested in the complexity of his characters.

The actress also discussed the recording process, which differed from some of her previous voice-acting projects.

Johansson recorded several scenes directly with Bird before working alongside Rockwell on their shared sequences.

She said, “I acted opposite Brad in the same space, which was just different and fun.”

The production allowed the actors to perform together during some recording sessions rather than completing every scene separately.

Sam Rockwell and Tom Waits Lead the Voice Cast

Rockwell voices Raymond Gunn, the central detective investigating the mystery surrounding Venus Nova.

The Oscar-winning actor is known for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Moon and Jojo Rabbit.

His character operates in a world where machines have taken over much of the work traditionally performed by private investigators.

Tom Waits voices Eyera, a one-eyed alien who serves as Gunn’s trusted companion.

Waits is known for his music career and acting appearances in films including The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and The Dead Don’t Die.

John Ratzenberger is also part of the voice cast. The actor has an extensive history in animation, including appearances in numerous Pixar productions.

The film’s music is composed by Michael Giacchino, who previously collaborated with Bird on The Incredibles and Ratatouille.

Giacchino attended the London premiere alongside Johansson, Rockwell and Bird.

Brad Bird Developed Ray Gunn for More Than 30 Years

Bird began developing the concept for Ray Gunn before making his feature directorial debut with The Iron Giant in 1999.

The filmmaker wanted to combine the atmosphere of classic detective cinema with an imagined future influenced by early 20th-century science fiction.

Bird previously described the original concept as “The Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers.”

The story draws from traditional Hollywood crime films, while its city design reflects Art Deco architecture and futuristic ideas popular before World War II.

At the London premiere, Bird discussed how music contributed to the project’s creation.

He recalled hearing the B-52s song Planet Claire and initially mistaking its sound for a variation of the theme from the television detective series Peter Gunn.

The experience helped inspire the name and concept of his fictional investigator.

Skydance Animation eventually moved the project forward, with Netflix securing its release.

Ray Gunn Trailer Reveals Futuristic Crime Story

Netflix released a trailer for Ray Gunn on September 23, providing a closer look at the film’s setting and characters.

The footage introduces Metropia as a city where humans and aliens live alongside advanced machines, flying vehicles and towering buildings.

It also establishes the contrast between the city’s futuristic appearance and the criminal activity taking place beneath its surface.

Ray Gunn’s investigation places him in contact with Venus Nova, whose fame and personal scandals have attracted public attention.

The trailer presents the story as a combination of detective mystery, action and science-fiction adventure.

The film carries a PG rating and has a listed running time of approximately 119 minutes.

Scarlett Johansson’s Other Upcoming Films

Ray Gunn arrives during a busy period in Johansson’s career.

The actress also stars in James Gray’s crime drama Paper Tiger, alongside Adam Driver and Miles Teller. The film has screened at major film festivals.

Johansson is additionally attached to Scapegoat, the upcoming A24 project written and directed by Ari Aster.

Jacob Elordi has been reported to be in talks for the production, while Jude Law has also entered negotiations.

The story and genre of Scapegoat have not been officially established, although early reports have described several possible directions, including science-fiction romance and psychological drama.

Johansson is also set to star in Mike Flanagan’s The Exorcist: Martyrs, scheduled for theatrical release in March 2027.

When Will Ray Gunn Release on Netflix?

Ray Gunn is scheduled to begin streaming worldwide on Netflix on December 18, 2026.

Before its streaming debut, the film is receiving festival screenings and is expected to have a limited theatrical release.

It is also scheduled to screen at the Montclair Film Festival on October 17, where it has been selected as an animation centerpiece.

Following its October 10 world premiere in London, Ray Gunn is moving through its festival release schedule ahead of its confirmed December 18 Netflix debut.