Shocking 'Incredibles 3' Twist: Brad Bird Confirms Return Despite Stepping Down!

At San Diego Comic-Con 2026, Collider's Steven Weintraub moderated a panel titled "Brad Bird: My Cinematic Journey," offering a deep dive into the esteemed director's remarkable three-decade career. Bird, known for infrequently releasing films, discussed his upcoming Netflix movie, "Ray Gunn," a retro-futuristic sci-fi noir that premieres later this year, as well as reflecting on classics like "The Iron Giant," "The Incredibles," "Ratatouille," and "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol." The conversation also touched upon his experiences with Disney legends and the advice that shaped his approach to filmmaking.

Bird shared a pivotal piece of advice from Disney animation legend Milt Kahl: "If you're approaching something, explore the possibilities." This mantra, emphasizing thorough exploration, continues to guide his projects. Reflecting on his early work, Bird discussed "Family Dog," a project where he aimed to show he could make a film. He felt deep sympathy for dogs who don't choose their families, leading to the concept of a dog navigating a nightmare family. His time on "The Simpsons" was also instrumental, teaching him to convey humor visually under intense production pressure, a skill crucial for his later feature films.

"The Iron Giant," a film that gained cult classic status years after its release, was a significant topic. Bird attributed its initial slow reception to a lack of marketing, contrasting it with "The Incredibles," which benefited from robust promotion. He noted that television reruns, particularly around Thanksgiving, helped the film find its audience. Bird recounted the studio's surprising receptiveness to his unique pitch for "The Iron Giant": "What if a gun had a soul... and didn't want to be a gun?" This thematic depth, exploring fear, death, weapons, and personal choice, was uncommon for an animated film at the time.

The discussion moved to "The Incredibles," Pixar's pioneering effort in creating stylized human characters in CG. Bird clarified that the characters were not photorealistic but highly caricatured, designed to be believable despite their exaggerated features. He explained that a studio exercise, which asked what would happen if the audience met the family in their civilian identities first, inadvertently led to the creation of Syndrome as the primary villain. Initially a minor character who died early in a draft, Syndrome was so compelling that he was integrated into the main plot, driven by a "spurned sidekick" resentment, inspired by Burt Ward's autobiography.

Bird also detailed his unexpected transition to directing "Ratatouille" midway through its production. While on vacation after finishing "The Incredibles," Pixar asked him to take over, partly due to his incisive notes during earlier story screenings. He inherited two complete storyboarded versions of the film and retained several voice actors like Ian Holm and Brian Dennehy. Bird, however, brought in Patton Oswalt for Remy and Peter O'Toole for Anton Ego, both of whom he felt were perfect for their roles. He particularly highlighted the challenge and eventual success of writing Anton Ego's iconic, soul-searching review, which defied conventional animated film pacing by becoming slower and quieter, ultimately enhanced by Michael Giacchino's romantic score.

His venture into live-action with "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol" came about after his long-cherished "1906" project proved too ambitious at the time. Tom Cruise, impressed by "The Incredibles," invited Bird to collaborate. Bird recalled the daunting experience of filming Cruise's insane stunts, including a moment where he feared Cruise had died during a practice swing outside a window. The production ended up shattering 37 windows to film the building sequence, ensuring that all wide shots and downward-looking perspectives were captured authentically on location.

The spotlight then shifted to "Ray Gunn," a project Bird had envisioned for over 30 years. He described it as "Buck Rogers meets the Maltese Falcon," a mystery set in a retro-futuristic, urban sci-fi world. Bird explained he had been "waiting for it for 30 years," not actively working on it, due to the challenge of securing funding. He emphasized the film's extraordinary visual detail, which will reward repeat viewings, a testament to the collaborative efforts of many creative people who fleshed out the city environment.

Composer Michael Giacchino joined the conversation, revealing he had known about "Ray Gunn" since 2003. Their collaboration involves discussing the emotional core of characters rather than focusing solely on musical genres. Giacchino noted that the score for "Ray Gunn" blends '50s sci-fi with '30s/40s noir and jazz, deliberately distinguishing itself from "The Incredibles." Bird acknowledged the unique visual aesthetic, born from his love for film syntax and the ability to move cameras freely in CG animation, which served as a "gateway drug" to live-action directing.

Updates on "Incredibles 3" were also shared: Pete Sohn, who voiced Emile in "Ratatouille" and previously worked on "The Iron Giant" and "The Incredibles" (boarding the Jack-Jack vs. raccoon sequence and the Bob/Helen kiss), is directing, with Bird co-writing and co-producing. Bird also teased a future live-action project with animation elements, a concept he and Giacchino have discussed before. The panel concluded with "Ray Gunn" confirmed to premiere on Netflix on December 18.