Acclaimed Pixar director Brad Bird is jumping back into animation. Having previously directed both Incredibles films, Ratatouille, The Iron Giant, and worked on The Simpsons during much of its golden age, Bird has now signed on to helm Ray Gunn for Skydance Animation.
Bird has also co-written the screenplay alongside Matthew Robbins (Crimson Peak). David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and former Pixar head John Lasseter, who was let go from Disney for accusations of sexual misconduct before being hired to work for Skydance in early 2019, will produce the project. Lasseter and Skydance Animation President Holly Edwards said in a statement:
“We are thrilled to partner with Brad to finally bring his vision of Ray Gunn to the screen. From its immersive world to its rich characters, we can’t wait to explore this story and to create a one-of-a-kind animated experience for audiences around the world.”
There are very little details regarding what Ray Gunn is actually about, but considering Bird’s animation track record, it’s worth getting excited about anyway. Bird himself said he “had some of my best filmmaking experiences with Skydance and Pixar, so it’s wonderful to be working with David, John and Dana again under one roof on Ray Gunn, a film I’ve wanted to make for a long time.”
Skydance’s first animated feature film, Luck, is scheduled to be released on Apple TV+ in August. Directed by Peggy Holmes, it follows an unlucky girl who stumbles upon the never-before-seen world of good and bad luck, before teaming up with magical creatures to uncover a force more powerful than even luck itself.
Following that, the studio will release Spellbound, directed by Vicky Jenson, in November. The story is set in a world of magic where a young girl must break the spell that has split her kingdom in two. That will also be released on Apple TV+, as part of the streamer’s movie deal with the studio.
We’ll wait for more details regarding what Ray Gunn is actually about, but three original animated films from directors with great track records in the genre (Holmes previously helmed Mickey’s Twice Upon A Christmas, while Jenson co-directed Shrek, the first film to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature) is a good thing to see in an industry filled with reboots and remakes.
#Peace.Love.RayGunn
