The Sheep Detectives is a unique cosy crime mystery that’s Death in Paradise meets Babe

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A funny German book featuring sheep detectives has been adapted into a charming mystery movie for kids and families. It boasts an impressive cast and crew, with lots of well-known actors and filmmakers involved.

The new comedy mystery, The Sheep Detectives, is directed by Kyle Balda, known for Minions and Despicable Me 3, and written by Craig Mazin, the creator of The Last of Us. The film features a live-action/CGI blend and stars Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson, Nicholas Braun, Hong Chau, and Nicholas Galitzine. Julia-Louis Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, and Brett Goldstein lend their voices to the sheep who are solving a murder.

Okay, so the story starts with this shepherd, George Hardy – played by Jackman, which is awesome – and he’s always thought sheep were way smarter than people give them credit for. He used to read mystery novels to his flock every night, which is already pretty wild. Then, one morning, they find him dead in the field, and because of all those stories, the sheep actually start investigating his murder themselves! It’s a seriously unique premise.

The sheep look surprisingly lifelike, which is more than can be said for the clumsy police officer Tim (Braun). He doesn’t figure out why the crime happened until George’s witty lawyer (Thompson) points it out.

A determined local reporter, Galitzine, assists Tim in pinpointing potential suspects – including a competing shepherd (Tosin Cole from SupaCell), a butcher (Conleth Hill of Game of Thrones), the hotel manager Beth (Hong Chau), and even the village vicar (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith). While George’s sheep are the ones actually investigating the clues, the big question is how they’ll share what they find with the people around them.

If you’re getting a Babe meets Knives Out vibe, you’re on the right track. While The Sheep Detectives might not be as heartwarming as the original Babe, it features a fun mystery, and the clever sheep detective, Lily (Dreyfus), is just as skilled at solving crimes as Benoit Blanc.

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I have to say, the actors are fantastic! Nicholas Braun is hilarious as the clumsy police officer, and Hugh Jackman completely blew me away. There are moments where his character, George, comforts Lily and this little lamb, and it’s genuinely moving – especially when you find out he was acting opposite puppets most of the time! It’s seriously impressive how he made it all feel so real.

While Hong Chau and Emma Thompson are talented, the film doesn’t give them enough to do. Emma Thompson’s witty lines are particularly enjoyable, but they also emphasize that the movie isn’t as hilarious as it could be when she’s not on screen.

The voice acting is a highlight. Brett Goldstein cleverly mimics Tom Hardy’s performance in Legend while voicing twins Ronnie and Reggie – though he plays sheep instead of the Kray brothers, and they’re equally chaotic. Bryan Cranston perfectly captures the grumpy personality of a solitary ram named Sebastian.

Chris O’Dowd shines as Mopple, the smartest and saddest sheep in the group. Parents will appreciate his character, and kids will be charmed by the unbelievably cute lambs – though some might think the computer-generated sheep aren’t entirely realistic.

Although rated PG, The Sheep Detectives is really meant for younger viewers. It’s a gentle and charming way to introduce kids to the world of cozy crime mysteries, similar to shows like Death in Paradise and Bergerac but designed for a family audience.

You don’t need to be incredibly clever to guess the ending, but brace yourself – your kids might ask for a pet lamb after seeing George’s, and you’ll need to be ready with an answer!

Okay, so I just heard that The Sheep Detectives is hitting theaters on May 8th! Even better, they’re doing preview showings over the May Bank Holiday weekend – May 2nd through the 4th. I’m already planning my trip to go see it!

I’m so excited! The latest issue of Living Legends is out, and it’s a beautiful, full-color 100-page tribute to Sir David Attenborough. You can grab a copy at any newsagent or order it online – I’m definitely getting one!

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2026-04-27 17:21