“The Incredibles” director Brad Bird reveals why he didn't want to return to Pixar for his new movie
“The Incredibles” director Brad Bird reveals why he didn't want to return to Pixar for his new movie
Wesley StenzelThu, June 25, 2026 at 6:32 PM UTC
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Brad Bird in 2018; 'The Incredibles'Credit: Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty; Pixar/DisneyKey points -
Brad Bird helmed two Incredibles movies and Ratatouille for Pixar, but his latest movie, Ray Gunn, is a Netflix production.
Bird explained why his long-gestating passion project won't be a Pixar movie.
The filmmaker is still working on Incredibles 3 with Pixar.
Brad Bird is a Pixar legend — but he isn't reteaming with the Disney-owned studio for his next project.
The animation auteur, who helmed hits like The Incredibles and Ratatouille for Pixar, opted to work with Netflix on his latest film, Ray Gunn.
In a new interview with IndieWire, Bird explained why he didn't return to Pixar for his latest animated adventure, which is a decades-in-the-making passion project that fuses film noir and sci-fi spectacle.
"I wanted it to go to a slightly different audience, and I wanted there to be a huge amount of overlap, obviously," he said. "The Pixar audience is wide, and I love that, and I love working with Pixar."
'Ray Gunn'Credit: Skydance Animation/Netflix
But Bird suggested he didn't want audiences to enter the film with expectations that it will resemble Pixar's usual fare.
"I wanted to make this a little bit different flavor wise, and that's why I didn't pitch it at Pixar," he said. "Because they have their lane, and I can get down with that lane, but I don't see this movie going down that lane."
Bird also hopes that Ray Gunn will land with a more mature audience. "I wanted to aim it a little older," he said. "Not majorly older, teenager is fine. But make something a little more adult and major."
It's worth noting that Bird is still on friendly terms with Pixar, as he's developing a third Incredibles movie with the studio that is set to be directed by The Good Dinosaur filmmaker Peter Sohn.
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THR previously reported that Bird began developing Ray Gunn in the 1990s while working at Turner Feature Animation, which merged with Warner Bros. and asked the filmmaker to make his feature directorial debut with 1999's The Iron Giant instead.
Bird said he never pitched Ray Gunn to Pixar despite making three wildly successful films there (the two Incredibles movies and Ratatouille), and indicated that although Netflix hasn't announced plans to present the film in theaters, he remains immensely grateful toward the streamer for making the project in the first place.
Bird in 2024Credit: Rich Polk/Variety via Getty
"I have nothing but warm feelings towards Netflix because they backed this film, they took a chance on it, and they gave me tremendous resources. If they say, 'You know, we'd like to experiment with theatrical,' I'd be the first one to go, 'Can I volunteer to be your guinea pig?'" he said. "They've accepted me in my theatrical ways, and I would hope that as many people as possible could see this film on a giant screen. It really rewards it."
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The Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol filmmaker noted how difficult it is to get original movies greenlit in contemporary Hollywood. "It's a challenge to get original ideas backed. We live in a time where for whatever reason, repeating yourself is rewarded and doing something new is not," he explained. "Everyone seems to forget that all the stuff you were repeating, at one time, was new and maybe you need to do more new things."
Ray Gunn stars Sam Rockwell as a private eye in a futuristic city populated by humans and aliens. Tom Waits voices his extraterrestrial sidekick, and Scarlett Johansson will play a mysterious pop star.
"I think it's maybe gonna change some people's minds about animation," Bird told IndieWire. "It can do nuanced, complicated things in a fun fashion."
Ray Gunn will premiere on Netflix on Dec. 18.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
