Hugh Jackman is set to return to the big screen in summer 2026 with The Sheep Detectives, a mystery comedy that also marks the directorial debut of American animator Kyle Balda. The film follows a middle-aged shepherd, played by Jackman, whose life revolves entirely around caring for his flock of seemingly innocent sheep, until events begin to unravel in unexpected ways.The shepherd lives in a world of his own and is content with the life he has, when all of a sudden, things go awry following his mysterious murder. The Sheep Detectives is being led by a star-studded cast comprising Nicholas Braun, Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall, and Emma Thompson. The movie is an adaptation of Leonie Swann's hit crime novel, Three Bags Full, which was also originally considered for the title of the project.When will The Sheep Detectives be released?The Sheep Detectives will have a theatrical premiere in the United States on May 8, 2026, with Amazon MGM Studios holding the distribution rights while Sony Pictures is overseeing the international market. The major locations used for filming The Sheep Detectives are:OxfordshireBuckinghamshireSurreyHertfordshireShepperton StudiosWhat do we know about the plot of The Sheep Detectives?The Sheep Detectives centers on a shepherd named George Hardy who lives all by himself on his farm in a place where city noise does not reach. However, he is not fully alone as he has his flock of sheep around whom his world revolves, and Hardy loves to spend his time taking care of the innocent creatures.Every night before going to bed, the shepherd also reads bedtime stories (which are mostly murder mysteries) to the animals and imagines that they understand his words. However, as it appears, the sheep can actually perceive his stories and engage in full-fledged discussions about the plots of the murder mysteries. Sometimes, they even get irritated when Hardy stops reading a tale in between and goes off to sleep.However, the world comes crashing down for these animals when one morning they discover Hardy lying dead on the grass. Convinced that it is not a natural death but murder in cold blood, the sheep set out to find the person who killed their master.They start looking for clues themselves as they do not trust the local police officers, and while exploring the world outside their haven (that Hardy built), the flock faces several challenges. They also get shocked to hear the amount of money Hardy left behind in his will, leaving the perfect motive to murder. Now it's only for time to tell how a group of apparently voiceless creatures solve this intense mystery.Who is in the cast of The Sheep Detectives? View this post on Instagram Instagram PostMarvel star Hugh Jackman will lead the cast of The Sheep Detectives, playing the lead role, a shepherd named George Hardy. Alongside him, we have Nicholas Braun in the role of the local sheriff, Tim Derry.Among others in the cast of The Sheep Detectives, we have:Hong Chau as Beth PennockNicholas Galitzine as Elliot MatthewsEmma ThompsonMandeep DhilonKobna Holdbrook-SmithConleth HillTosin ColeRegina Hall (voice role)Patrick Stewart (voice role)Bryan Cranston (voice role)Julia Louis-Dreyfus (voice role)Chris O'Dowd (voice role)Stay tuned to Soap Central for regular updates on daily soaps, TV shows and movies.