Full Breakdown
Netflix Announces Ray Gunn Film and Ghostbusters: Night Shift Series at Annecy
6/24/2026, 8:40:03 PM
Netflix Unveils Ray Gunn Film and Ghostbusters: Night Shift Series at Annecy
During the June 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Netflix presented two flagship projects: Brad Bird’s sci-fi noir feature *Ray Gunn* and the animated series *Ghostbusters: Night Shift*. *Ray Gunn* will stream globally on December 18 2026; *Night Shift* is slated for a 2027 launch. Both were shown with concept art, loglines, and early footage.
Development Background & Key Creators
*Ray Gunn* is a Netflix-Skydance Animation co-production directed by Brad Bird, whose concept originated over three decades ago. The voice cast includes Sam Rockwell (Ray Gunn), Scarlett Johansson (Venus Nova), and Tom Waits (Eyera). Bird collaborates with composer Michael Giacchino and producers John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Lisa Beroud.
*Ghostbusters: Night Shift* is a Netflix-Sony Pictures Animation project. Executive producers are Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan, with Dan Aykroyd also attached. Showrunners Ben Hibon and Elliott Kalan lead a new team—Belladonna, Mitzi, Zoe, Travis, Mike, and a “Terror Puppy”—set in 1994 New York City, five years after the original Ghostbusters’ Statue of Liberty incident.
Official Statements & Data
Netflix cited 130 million monthly animation viewers and 1.5 billion anime streams in 2025 to illustrate its expanding reach. Brad Bird called *Ray Gunn* “a blend of sci-fi and classic detective movies from the ’40s” and stressed the importance of voice performance. Jason Reitman said *Night Shift* “fills the big gap” between the 1984 original Ghostbusters and recent sequels, aiming for a gritty, retro New York aesthetic. Elliott Kalan and Ben Hibon described a naturalistic visual style intended to make audiences “feel the wet garbage under your feet.” Dan Aykroyd confirmed his ongoing executive-producer role. Recent Netflix animation successes—*KPop Demon Hunters* (two Academy Awards) and *Ultraman: Rising* (Children and Family Emmys)—underscore the platform’s focus on award-worthy content.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree on the December 18 2026 release for *Ray Gunn*. For *Ghostbusters: Night Shift*, reports only give the year 2027, with no exact launch date, episode count, or runtime disclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Back in 1984, my father directed the original Ghostbusters film, introducing the world to an entirely new kind of comedy. A science fiction film that was as scary as it was hilarious.” — Jason Reitman, Executive Producer, *Ghostbusters: Night Shift*
- “We want you to feel the wet garbage under your feet as you watch the show,” said Kalan.” — Elliott Kalan, Co-Showrunner, *Ghostbusters: Night Shift*
- “It was always meant to be a blend of sci-fi and classic detective movies from the ’40s. The elevator pitch I came up with is The Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers.” — Brad Bird, Director, *Ray Gunn*
- “As for Johansson, the actress shared, "Having the opportunity to collaborate with Brad Bird is a career milestone for me.” — Scarlett Johansson, Voice of Venus Nova, *Ray Gunn*
