How Ray Gunns Venus Nova, pop star of the (retro) future, evolved
Brad Bird's upcoming "Ray Gunn" stars Scarlett Johansson as singer Venus Nova. Here's how the film crafted her pop star persona.
In 2025, Netflix's animated series Ray Gunn introduced a new fictional pop star named Venus Nova, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. The character embodies the "retro" aesthetic of a 20th-century celebrity icon, drawing inspiration from Hollywood legends like Lauren Bacall and Veronica Lake. Venus, the most prominent figure in Ray Gunn's futuristic city of Metropia, garners immense media attention and her image is plastered across skyscrapers in the form of holographic ads promoting her album, Welcome to the Future.
Despite her glamorous image, Venus' personal life is fraught with turmoil, including tumultuous relationships and public outbursts that captivate Metropia's relentless press. Director Brad Bird and his team worked meticulously to create Venus' character, carefully considering her appearance and the darker, more vulnerable aspects of her personality.
The costume design alone required 23 distinct looks, with Kimbra providing the soundtrack for her performances. Bird drew from personal experiences and the struggles of modern pop stars, aiming to capture the complexities and sacrifices that come with fame.
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