Scarlett Johansson's Next Sci-Fi Project Is So Close To Being A BioShock Movie
As one of the industry's most recognizable names, Scarlett Johansson is never short on work, and 2025 was a particularly big year for her. Not only did she star in Jurassic World: Rebirth and The Phoenician Scheme, but she also made her directorial debut with Elanor the Great, making way for a slightly quieter 2026.
So far, Paper Tiger has been her only project this year, but that will change come December, with the release of Ray Gunn. The animated sci-fi flick is set to have a short theatrical run before premiering on Netflix, with the story following the last human detective in this futuristic world, which has become home to both humans and aliens.
While Ray Gunn may not be Johansson's next Avengers: Endgame, the unique project certainly has potential to be big, especially with its BioShock inspiration. Director Brad Bird has never cited BioShock as an inspiration for Ray Gunn, but looking at the scenery, artistic style, and even elements of the plot, it's clear there are some big similarities.
As a result, Netflix may essentially have two BioShock movies in the works: the official one and Ray Gunn, which should appeal to fans of the game franchise. Whether the impending release can match the quality of the BioShock projects is yet to be seen, but after seeing the intriguing trailer, Johansson's upcoming sci-fi film looks like it could be truly special.
Ray Gunn's Art Deco Obsession Means It Looks Just Like BioShock, But On Land And Less Violent
Just like BioShock, Ray Gunn leans into its Art Deco style, with its visuals resembling the iconic video game series. For those unfamiliar with Art Deco, it is a design and architectural style prominent in the 1920s and 1930s, focusing on luxury and glamour to create an overall modern look, which Ray Gunn certainly features plenty of.
The animated world is a perfect blend of old-fashioned yet futuristic, creating a bit of a neo-retro type of environment. There are flying cars, holograms, slick interiors, neon lights, and more, all of which add to the personality of this vibrant world, and in many ways, it feels like a slightly more modern version of BioShock's legendary universe.
BioShock is arguably even more ambitious, as the first two games feature an underwater city that still manages to lean into this distinct style. Even the more run-down areas of the games have signs that the set pieces were once full of this glamorous design until things fell apart, adding to just how impressive the franchise's art direction is.
Ray Gunn looks similar, and despite being on land, the clean yet gritty look accompanied by imposing architecture makes it impossible not to compare these two worlds. It will undeniably be less violent than BioShock, as despite being based on a detective investigating a murder, the movie still has a PG rating.
In contrast, BioShock is rated M and features some gruesome deaths alongside other graphic content, making the decline of Rapture even more apparent. If Johansson's upcoming movie can come even close to replicating the same feeling that BioShock's ambience provided, it'll undoubtedly be a major triumph, justifying Ray Gunn's 30-year development.
Ray Gunn & BioShock Are Both Detective Noir Stories At Heart
Based on the trailers and posters, it's no secret that Ray Gunn is a detective noir story, a genre BioShock technically falls into as well. In a world where most detectives have been replaced by machines, Raymond has the unfortunate task of investigating a murder in a complex environment full of surprises, which also happens to have a big criminal underbelly.
Although it seems far more light-hearted and humorous than BioShock, Ray Gunn clearly still has a gritty feel to it, with the murders dictating the plot. The protagonist may seem morally sound, but there's also a slightly nihilistic atmosphere about this metropolis, helping it stand out as a detective noir tale, despite being more family-focused.
BioShock's premise and setting are very much noir, as the game's atmosphere feels like it's ripped straight from one of these classic movies. The tense tone mixed with horror elements cements it as a timeless classic, and despite the original 2007 game not revolving around a detective, the constant piecing together of the story makes it a detective noir at its core.
Jack is a silent protagonist who knows little about his background, yet follows instructions and finds audio logs that help string the narrative together. Eventually, he is able to discover the true nature of how he got to Rapture and what his purpose is, while also uncovering the secrets of this underwater city and its various criminals.
Between Raymond and Jack, they may not be among the very smartest film noir detectives. However, if Ray Gunn lives up to the hype, these two characters will be part of very memorable plots, especially since both projects embrace this gritty genre, creating some of the most unique detective noir stories on the market.
Ray Gunn Highlights The Big Problem With A BioShock Movie
All three BioShock games truly thrived when it came to the art direction and visuals, as they introduced some of the best video game universes we've ever seen. However, one of the main reasons they looked so good was the flexibility a video game allows, and with Ray Gunn being an animated movie, it can flourish in a similar way.
There are far fewer restrictions when it comes to animation, allowing for the signature styles we saw in the BioShock trilogy, and now in Ray Gunn as well. If Ray Gunn were to be a live-action project instead, there is simply no way it would look anywhere near the same, as it would be impossible to pull off such a convincing design.
CGI and impressive sets could only take it so far, whereas the world of animation gives so much freedom, which is why Ray Gunn going the direction it did makes sense. Unfortunately, this proves one of the biggest problems with a BioShock movie, as trying to bring this underwater utopia to life is going to be extremely difficult.
The architecture and external designs alone will be hard, but making things like plasmids and Big Daddies work in live action will be a headache. The PS3 game has aged beautifully, as seeing Rapture for the first time remains breathtaking almost two decades later, but whether that can transfer to the in-development Netflix movie remains uncertain.
Visuals aren't the only problem facing the upcoming BioShock movie, but it's clear that going for a live-action approach is a bold move that could be disastrous. In contrast, it's hard to imagine Ray Gunn in any other format than animation, resulting in an extremely promising project that is garnering a lot of hype ahead of its release.
Ray Gunn Could Be Another Huge Movie For Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson has already had a more illustrious career than most, especially since she's one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. She has been part of major franchises, one-off hits, and has received several Oscar nominations, suggesting she has nothing more to prove, yet Ray Gunn has all the makings of becoming another massive success for Johansson.
Between Transformers One and the Sing movies, the actress is clearly no stranger to voice acting, but playing Venus Nova could be her best animated role yet. Venus is a famous pop star with a huge following; however, she also possesses a volatile side, putting her right at the heart of Raymond's murder investigation that drives Ray Gunn's plot.
As a result, Johansson's character is poised to be one of the key figures in the Netflix film, and also appears to be a love interest for the protagonist, making her extremely layered. Venus' status as a celebrity suggests she'll have plenty of charm and charisma that make her easy to like, yet there's always the chance she is actually guilty.
Scarlett Johansson will star alongside Sam Rockwell in Ray Gunn. Both actors were part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, yet never worked together.
That said, she is also deeply involved in the action, as the trailer features Venus holding a gun and driving a flying car, encouraging Ray to jump from danger. With this in mind, there's certainly a lot of potential for Johansson to shine in this movie, and the exciting plot mixed with such a unique world suggests Ray Gunn could be exceptional.
Based on Brad Bird's track record, having produced hits like The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and The Iron Giant, Ray Gunn could wind up among Scarlett Johansson's best movie roles. Therefore, if you are a fan of the actress, the upcoming thriller is certainly one to look out for when it arrives in December.
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Ray Gunn
Cast
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Sam Rockwell
Raymond Gunn (voice)
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Venus Nova (voice)
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Tom Waits
Eyera (voice)
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Matt Berry
Francis “Slugsy” Xavier (voice)
Ray Gunn is a 2026 animated neo-noir science-fiction mystery directed by Brad Bird, set in Metropia, a retro-futuristic city where humans and aliens coexist. Private detective Raymond Gunn is drawn into a murder case involving aliens and famous multimedia star Venus Nova, pulling him into a larger mystery.
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BioShock
- Director
- Francis Lawrence
- Writers
- Michael Green
- Producers
- Roy Lee, Cameron MacConomy
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