In something of a change of pace, Hugh Jackman will follow his portrayal of a Neil Diamond tribute act by playing shepherd to a star-studded flock of sheep.

In the upcoming Sheep Detectives, Jackman plays George the shepherd, who reads detective novels to his sheep as he puts them to sleep each night.

The flock – including the voices of Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep), Chris O’Dowd (Black Mirror), One Battle after Another‘s Regina Hall and Jackman’s X-Men co-star Patrick Stewart – is not as it seems.

Emma Thompson – playing a high-flying lawyer – Nicholas Braun (Succession), Nicholas Galitzine (Legends), Molly Gordon (The Bear) and Hong Chau (The Whale) round out the “human” cast.

“We found George on the grass, and he’s not moving,” one of the sheep says in the first trailer released this week. “Our shepherd was murdered.”

Another adds, “The policeman (Braun) is completely hopeless. We need to help him.”

Based on the Leonie Swannnovel, Three Bags Full, The Sheep Detectives has been adapted for the screen by The Last of Us‘s Craig Mazin, with Minions’ Kyle Balda directing.

Due for release in May, the movie comes off a busy 2025 for Jackman and Thompson.

Jackman has had a busy year. Photo: Focus Features

Jackman recently starred alongside Kate Hudson in musical drama Song Sung Blue, which hits cinemas in Australia on New Year’s Day. He also stars as the titular hero in Michael Sarnoski’s upcoming A24 film The Death of Robin Hood.

Thompson has appeared in thriller movie Dead of Winter and Apple TV series Down Cemetery Road.