The Sheep Detectives
Upcoming mystery comedy film by Kyle Balda
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The Sheep Detectives is an upcoming mystery comedy film directed by Kyle Balda and written by Craig Mazin, based on the 2005 novel Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. The film features an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, and Emma Thompson with the voices of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, and Rhys Darby. The film is scheduled to be released in the United States by Amazon MGM Studios and the United Kingdom by Sony Pictures Releasing International on 8 May 2026.
| The Sheep Detectives | |
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| Directed by | Kyle Balda |
| Written by | Craig Mazin |
| Based on | Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | George Steel |
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| Language | English |
Premise
A flock of sheep set off to solve the mystery of who murdered their beloved shepherd.
Cast
- Hugh Jackman as George Hardy, a shepherd who is mysteriously found dead
- Emma Thompson as George's lawyer
- Nicholas Braun as Tim Derry, a clumsy local cop
- Nicholas Galitzine as Elliot Matthews, a reporter
- Molly Gordon as Rebecca Hampstead, George's daughter
- Hong Chau as Beth Pennock
- Tosin Cole
- Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as a priest
- Conleth Hill
- Mandeep Dhillon
Voices
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Lily, a Shetland sheep
- Bryan Cranston as a black Castlemilk Moorit sheep
- Chris O'Dowd as Mopple, a Merino sheep
- Regina Hall as Cloud
- Patrick Stewart as Sir Richfield
- Bella Ramsey as a Danish Landrace sheep with brown wool
- Brett Goldstein as twin Norfolk Horn sheep
- Rhys Darby as a Lincoln Longwool sheep
Production
In March 2024, it was revealed that Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie, an adaptation of Leonie Swann's 2005 detective novel Three Bags Full, was in development, with Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson cast in the lead roles.[1] In June, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, Tosin Cole, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Conleth Hill and Mandeep Dhillon rounded out the cast. Kyle Balda would direct the film and Craig Mazin wrote the screenplay.[2] Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, and Patrick Stewart were announced as having joined the cast in April 2025.[3]
Principal photography took place from June to July 2024 in a number of locations across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey, most notably at White Pond Farm and in Shepperton Studios.[4][5] Visual effects for the film were completed by Framestore, and Clear Angle Studios.[6].
Release
The Sheep Detectives is scheduled to be released in the United States on 8 May 2026. It was originally scheduled to release on 20 February 2026, under the name Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie, but in May 2025, it was pushed to 13 November 2026 to pull in more families.[2][7] In October 2025, it was reported that the film had been retitled The Sheep Detectives, and was moved up to its current date to avoid competition with The Cat in the Hat.[8]