Set for release on Netflix later this year, the film stars Sam Rockwell as the title character, a private eye in an alternate future seen from 1939 who becomes embroiled in a case involving “aliens, murder, and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.” She is voiced by Scarlett Johansson. You see Ray above, but there are a few other images here too, mostly of Venus.
Oh, and Tom Waits voices Ayra, the green character who hangs out with Ray.
“Ray Gunn Bird said in a press release, “It’s been on my mind for over 30 years. The film is a mix of 40s science fiction and classic spy films… Maltese Falcon meeting of buck rogers. I’ve been a fan of both of those types of styles, and it feels fun to mix them together, and get a chance to play with a lot of cinematic elements and extreme characters.
He added, “There is a large segment of people who don’t watch animation.” “This is a group I’m eager to celebrate because it’s an amazing art form that is so limited in people’s minds. Animation as a medium is so interesting in terms of what kind of stories can be told.”
Johansson said, “Having the opportunity to collaborate with Brad Bird is a career milestone for me; I’ve loved his work my entire life.” “This project is extremely special because it is a perfect realization of where Brad is right now on his artistic journey. I can’t wait for audiences to see this extraordinary animation that feels like nothing else out there.”
In short: This is a sci-fi, hard-boiled, animated spy film from Brad Bird with Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Waits. Can you call it one of the most awaited films of the year?
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