Michael Giacchino Joins Brad Bird’s RAY GUNN Animated Film as Score is Recorded at Abbey Road Studios
One of the most exciting creative reunions in animation is officially happening. Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino has signed on to score Ray Gunn, the highly anticipated Netflix animated feature from Brad Bird, and the music has already been recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London.
For fans of Bird and Giacchino’s previous collaborations, this news should come as no surprise. The filmmaker and composer have built one of the strongest creative partnerships in modern cinema, beginning with The Incredibles in 2004.
Since then, they’ve worked together on Ratatouille, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Tomorrowland, and Incredibles 2. Now they’re teaming up once again for what sounds like one of the most unique animated projects currently in development.
Set in an alternate future viewed through the lens of 1939, Ray Gunn takes place in the sprawling metropolis of Metropia.
The story follows private investigator Raymond Gunn, voiced by Sam Rockwell, as he becomes entangled in a mystery involving aliens, murder, and a multimedia celebrity named Venus Nova, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Tom Waits is also part of the voice cast.
The film marks Bird’s first feature project since Incredibles 2 arrived in theaters in 2018. Bird created the original story and co-wrote the screenplay with Matthew Robbins, giving the project an even more personal connection for the acclaimed filmmaker.
Bird spoke about reuniting with Giacchino and explained why their creative process remains so special: “One of the reasons I loved working with Michael again on ‘Ray Gunn’ is that he treats the orchestra like a living organism.
“He wants all the musicians in the same room, reacting to each other, and you can hear the difference. It’s the same way I like to work with animators — they’re not an afterthought, they are the thought.”
That seems especially fitting for a project as ambitious and stylized as Ray Gunn. Recording at Abbey Road Studios also adds another layer of excitement, as some of cinema’s most iconic scores have been brought to life within those historic walls.
Giacchino reflected on his longtime friendship and partnership with Bird, saying: “Working with Brad on ‘Ray Gunn’ still feels like two kids meeting in a park to talk about ‘Jonny Quest.’ We grew up loving the same things, we still get that same excitement, and that shared enthusiasm gets poured straight into the movies we make together.”
That shared enthusiasm has produced some incredible movie music over the years, and it’ll be fascinating to hear what Giacchino creates for a futuristic detective adventure filled with noir influences, aliens, and larger-than-life characters.
Ray Gunn is expected to debut on Netflix later this year, although an exact release date has yet to be announced.
The film is part of Skydance Animation’s ongoing partnership with Netflix, which began with an exclusive multi-year agreement in 2023.
Between Brad Bird returning to feature animation, Michael Giacchino crafting another score for one of his closest collaborators, and a story that blends retro detective fiction with science fiction spectacle, Ray Gunn is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing animated movies heading to Netflix this year.