Hugh Jackman is bringing humor, heart, and mystery to the big screen in The Sheep Detectives, the new mystery-comedy now playing in theaters nationwide.
Directed by Kyle Balda and based on Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann, the film follows shepherd George Hardy, a gentle caretaker who reads detective novels to his flock of sheep every night. But when George is found dead under suspicious circumstances, the sheep decide to use everything they have learned from his stories to solve the mystery themselves.
As the flock ventures beyond their meadow into the human world, they follow leads, investigate suspects, and discover that even sheep might become brilliant detectives.
Speaking with CBN News' Studio 5, screenwriter Craig Mazin shared that the emotional depth of the story surprised him.
"Leonie Swann wrote this beautiful novel with this amazing premise," Mazin said. "What I wasn't expecting is how moving this story was, how beautiful it was."
Jackman revealed that fatherhood was one of the key reasons he connected so deeply with the role of George.
"George is like a father to these sheep," Jackman explained. "What I love about this is the way George really loves each one for their uniqueness."
Nicholas Braun, who plays aspiring police officer Tim Derry, described the film as both funny and meaningful.
"It's really like saying something. The messages are really special," Braun shared.
Meanwhile, Julia Louis-Dreyfus - who voices Lily the Sheep - praised the screenplay's originality and whimsical tone.
"The details of this story are so bizarre, fantastical, and whimsical," she said. "That's what really drew me to it."
Critics have already compared the film's warm humor and emotional storytelling to Babe and Paddington, blending cozy mystery with heartfelt family themes.
The ensemble cast also includes Emma Thompson, Hong Chau, Bryan Cranston, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, and Rhys Darby.
Released May 8, 2026, The Sheep Detectives is currently screening in cinemas and is expected to stream on Prime Video following its theatrical run.
