Hugh Jackman leads an all-star cast in offbeat mystery comedy The Sheep Detectives

Sony Pictures has released the official trailer and poster for The Sheep Detectives, an animated comedy mystery that asks what would happen if your livestock were smarter than they let on. The film is “coming soon” to UK cinemas.

Directed by Kyle Balda (Minions: The Rise of Gru) and written by Craig Mazin (Chernobyl, The Last of Us), the film is based on the internationally bestselling novel Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. It follows George (voiced by Hugh Jackman), a lonely shepherd who reads detective novels aloud to his sheep each night, unaware that his woolly audience is listening – and learning. When a suspicious event unsettles the peace on the farm, the flock decide to investigate, forming an unlikely crime-solving team with an impressively sharp eye for detail.

With its eccentric premise and rich ensemble cast – including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Bella Ramsey, Nicholas Galitzine, Emma Thompson, Brett Goldstein, and Patrick Stewart – the film looks set to be a uniquely offbeat addition to the animated whodunnit canon. The trailer showcases both the gentle charm and absurdity of the concept, as well as hints of slapstick humour and witty observational comedy aimed at all ages.

Produced by Lindsay Doran, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller among the executive producers, The Sheep Detectives blends cosy mystery tropes with a distinctly modern sense of humour.

Whether you’re a fan of Agatha Christie, Chicken Run, or simply looking for something original in the family-friendly space, this might be one to keep an eye on.

The editorial unit

The Sheep Detectives does not have a release date yet.

Watch the trailer for The Sheep Detectives here: