Hugh Jackman returns as a doomed shepherd in The Sheep Detectives (2026)—but the real stars are his woolly flock turned amateur sleuths solving his murder. This genre-busting mystery comedy from The Last of Us writer Craig Mazin and Minions director Kyle Balda promises the wildest whodunit since Knives Out, arriving May 8 in theaters.
Sheep Sleuths: The Wild Premise
George Hardy (Hugh Jackman), a gentle shepherd obsessed with detective novels, reads Agatha Christie to his flock every night—never suspecting they actually understand every plot twist. When George turns up dead under mysterious circumstances, his sheep ditch the meadow to crack the case themselves, interrogating clueless humans while dodging the bumbling local cop (Nicholas Braun).
Based on Leonie Swann’s cult novel Three Bags Full, this live-action/animation hybrid flips the murder mystery genre: the detectives have hooves, not badges. Craig Mazin’s script promises the verbal sparring that made The Last of Us legendary, but with barnyard chaos.
Official Trailer: Watch Now
Hugh Jackman Leads Dream Ensemble
Jackman’s post-Deadpool palate cleanser casts him against type as the woolly herd’s beloved caretaker. Succession’s Nicholas Braun plays the Keystone Cop investigator who misses every clue; The Idea of You’s Nicholas Galitzine and The Bear’s Molly Gordon lead human suspects.
Voice legends bring the flock to life: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, and Rhys Darby. Emma Thompson plays George’s lawyer; Hong Chau rounds out a cast that screams Oscar bait comedy.
Craig Mazin + Minions Director = Genius
The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin adapts Leonie Swann’s 2005 bestseller, bringing prestige TV dialogue to barnyard detectives. Kyle Balda (Minions: The Rise of Gru) directs this live-action/CGI hybrid, blending photorealistic sheep with Jackman’s live-action humans.
Amazon MGM Studios’ May 8, 2026 release pits talking animals against Knives Out-style humans in a theatrical event primed for family audiences and mystery nerds alike. Early buzz calls it “John Wick with sheep” and “the reverse Animal Farm we deserve.”
Theatrical Release: May 8, 2026
Amazon MGM Studios unleashes The Sheep Detectives in US theaters May 8, 2026 (Sony Pictures UK). Mark calendars—this sheep-led procedural demands the big screen for maximum baa-fflement.
Follow @TheSheepDetectives on Instagram/TikTok for behind-the-scenes sheep drama. Hugh Jackman’s flock investigation becomes 2026’s word-of-mouth phenomenon—trailer views already exploding.
