The Sheep Detectives

The Sheep Detectives is an upcoming mystery comedy film directed by Kyle Balda (in his live-action debut) and written by Craig Mazin. It is based on the 2005 novel Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. The film features an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, Tosin Cole, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, and Patrick Stewart.

The Sheep Detectives
Directed by	Kyle Balda
Screenplay by	Craig Mazin
Based on	Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann
Produced by	Lindsay Doran Tim Bevan Eric Fellner
Starring	Hugh Jackman Emma Thompson Nicholas Braun Nicholas Galitzine Molly Gordon Hong Chau Tosin Cole Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Bryan Cranston Julia Louis-Dreyfus Chris O'Dowd Regina Hall Patrick Stewart
Cinematography	George Steel
Edited by	Paul Machliss Al LeVine
Music by	Heitor Pereira
Production companies	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Working Title Films Lord Miller Productions Three Strange Angels Productions
Distributed by	Amazon MGM Studios
Release date	May 8, 2026 (2026-05-08)
Countries	United Kingdom United States
Language	English

The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 8, 2026.

Cast

• Hugh Jackman as George Hardy, a shepherd who is mysteriously found dead
• Emma Thompson
• Nicholas Braun as Tim Derry, a local cop
• Nicholas Galitzine as Elliot Matthews
• Molly Gordon as Rebecca Hampstead
• Hong Chau as Beth Pennock
• Tosin Cole
• Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
• Conleth Hill
• Mandeep Dhillon
• Bryan Cranston
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus
• Chris O'Dowd
• Regina Hall
• Patrick Stewart

Production

In March 2024, it was revealed that an adaptation of the 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]

Filming

Principal photography took place from June-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]

Release

The Sheep Detectives is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 8, 2026.^[6] It was previously scheduled to release on February 20, 2026 and November 13, 2026.^[7][2]