Brad Bird on a Ray Gunn sequel: “I don’t think about sequels during development”
Brad Bird’s already dangling sequel talk for Ray Gunn, his Scarlett Johansson-starring, Blade Runner-like animated neo-noir, ahead of its December premiere.
Here we go then – Brad Bird is sticking his neck out talking future plans for his upcoming animated sci-fi, and if you rate Scarlett Johansson in a neon-washed hardboiled future, this one’s worth keeping an eye on. Ray Gunn has already done the rounds at the big festivals, the reviews are cracking, and now there’s a bit of noise about the dreaded "S-word": sequels. Bird himself had something to say, and honestly, it sounds more like a bloke keeping his options open than pitching a shared universe.
Not Keen on Sequels – But Never Say Never
On the AFI Fest red carpet, Bird was straight-up about where he stands. He told ScreenRant that when he’s deep in a film like this, he’s not plotting ‘shared universe’ flowcharts on a whiteboard out the back:
‘I don’t think about sequels during development. I focus on the movie we’re making without assuming that everybody’s going to want more.’
He threw in a bit of a food analogy as well, likening an audience watching Ray Gunn to someone polishing off a quality meal – you’re full, you’re satisfied, you move on. Still, it’s not a full-stop. Bird reckons he tends to flesh out his worlds well enough that there’s potential to play with more stories if the vibe’s right, maybe even with someone else at the wheel. So, door’s open a crack, but only just.
If you know Bird’s career, this is textbook for him. He’s only given in to sequels once, with Incredibles 2, and that took more than ten years after the original. He’s famously rejected all the pitches thrown his way for more The Iron Giant or Ratatouille, so if Ray Gunn gets another run, it’ll be because he actually thinks there’s something new worth telling.
Cast and Release Details
The voice cast is genuinely stacked: Sam Rockwell plays Ray Gunn, your classic gumshoe detective with a trenchcoat and doubtless a world of baggage. Scarlett Johansson voices Venus Nova, a properly high-profile media star who seems engineered for trouble. Supporting voices include Tom Waits, Matt Berry, Bobby Cannavale, Michelle Rodriguez and Alan Tudyk. Honestly, you could probably just play ‘spot the voice’ and get your money’s worth.
The film landed its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, and the critics have already put it at 94% Certified Fresh over on Rotten Tomatoes. Length-wise, you’re looking at 119 minutes – which is a decent stretch for animation. It’s out on Netflix on 18 December, so if you want to watch Johansson do cyberpunk, mark your calendar.
Ray Gunn is available to stream on Netflix from 18 December.