Scarlett Johansson's New Netflix Sci-Fi Movie Unveils The Alien Mafia & A Deadly Mystery

The alien mafia and a deadly mystery await in Netflix's Ray Gunn.

Scarlett Johansson plays pop star Venus Nova, who is faced with a potentially career-ending and life-threatening scandal. Along with Johansson's Venus, other previously announced characters include the eponymous detective, Raymond "Ray" Gunn (Sam Rockwell), and his one-eyed alien colleague, Eyera (Tom Waits). At San Diego Comic-Con, director Brad Bird described the animated film to ScreenRant as being influenced by The Big Lebowski and Blade Runner due to the combination of sci-fi noir, comedy, and action.

Now, Netflix has released the first trailer for Ray Gunn. The footage begins with a shot of a car flying across the skyline of the futuristic city of Metropia, with clear visual influences from Blade Runner. As Ray investigates a crime scene, Eyera narrates in his gravelly voice about the deception and moral complications involved in their business, which is further accentuated by a glimpse of an alien gangster emerging from a vehicle. Eyera also asks what Ray is looking for as the detective ascends into the sky via a jetpack, and he admits he is searching for the truth. Check out the trailer below:

As the trailer continues, the central case becomes clear, as it is revealed that Johansson's character, Venus, has been accused of murder. Ray and Eyera are hired to keep Venus out of trouble, but the job quickly becomes more complex as the titular detective begins to fall for the pop star, with her fulfilling the role of the noir movie's femme fatale, all while being hunted by members of the alien mafia. When asked toward the end of the footage about whether he has a statement to make, Ray says, "Stay tuned."

In addition to the trailer, Netflix announced that, along with Johansson, Rockwell, and Waits, the cast includes Alan Tudyk, Matt Berry, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Chernus, Kether Donohue, Michelle Rodriguez, Aasif Mandvi, Matt Jones, Kathryn Hunter, John Ratzenberger, Justin Peck, and Patton Oswalt. Bird previously worked with Ratzenberger and Oswalt in multiple Pixar movies, including Ratzenberger as the Underminer in The Incredibles and Incredibles 2, Mustafa in Ratatouille, and Oswalt as Remy in Ratatouille.

Bird previously shared via Netflix that "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." He developed the story, wrote the screenplay with Matthew Robbins, and produced the film alongside John Lasseter, Lisa Beroud, David Ellison, and Dana Goldberg, with Skydance Animation as the movie's animation studio. Michael Giacchino composed the score after previously working with Bird on The Incredibles, Incredibles 2, and Ratatouille.

Before making its Netflix streaming debut on December 18, Ray Gunn will play in select theaters and with limited 70mm screenings beginning on December 4. It will come shortly after the streamer's new animated films Steps and In Waves, which are respectively releasing on November 20 and December 11. They join the expanding slate of animated features that already includes KPop Demon Hunters, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Klaus, Nimona, The Sea Beast, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Leo, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, and In Your Dreams.

Ray Gunn begins streaming on Netflix on December 18.

Release Date December 18, 2026

Runtime 119 minutes

Producers Alex Schwartz, Brad Bird, Connie Nartonis Thompson, Dana Goldberg, David Ellison, Hannah Minghella, John Lasseter, Karen Rupert Toliver, Lisa Beroud

Cast

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  Sam Rockwell

  Raymond Gunn (voice)

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  Matt Berry

  Francis “Slugsy” Xavier (voice)