A shepherd reads detective novels to his sheep every night. He thinks they’re just listening to the sound of his voice. Turns out, they’ve been paying attention.
“The Sheep Detectives” hits theaters May 8, and Amazon MGM Studios just dropped three new clips. Hugh Jackman voices George, the shepherd who unwittingly trains his flock in the art of crime-solving. When something suspicious happens on the farm, the sheep take matters into their own hooves.
The film’s based on “Three Bags Full” by Leonie Swann and adapted by Craig Mazin, who’s proven he can handle complex storytelling. Kyle Balda directs.
The voice cast is stacked. Emma Thompson and Hong Chau join Jackman, along with Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, and Molly Gordon. Supporting roles feature Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, and Brett Goldstein.
It’s a family-friendly mystery with a PG rating, produced by Working Title and Three Strange Angels. Lindsay Doran, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner are producing, with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller among the executive producers.
Tickets are already on sale. For indie filmmakers watching the animation space, this is another example of studios betting on original storytelling over sequels.
