Nicholas Braun & Chris O'Dowd Call The Sheep Detectives "Fargo Meets Paddington"

2 hours ago 7

Published May 5, 2026, 12:03 PM EDT

As a graduate of Columbia University in New York City, Tatiana studied theater and comparative literature. She has been passionate about all manner of storytelling from Jane Austen adaptations to anime. Aside from writing for Screen Rant, she co-hosts podcasts: The Flash Podcast and Ladies With Gumption.

The Sheep Detectives is defying all odds, genres, and AI investigations, as stars Nicholas Braun and Chris O'Dowd learned in this week's episode of Debunking AI. Based on Leonie Swann's novel, Three Bags Full, the new family comedy finds a flock of sheep looking to solve the murder of their beloved shepherd (Hugh Jackman).

Luckily for them, George read them murder mysteries before his passing, allowing them to master the art of crime-solving. It's certainly a skill they will need, seeing as the constable in charge of the case, played by Braun, is as inexperienced as they come. O'Dowd, meanwhile, plays a sheep named Mopple who is not quite like his fellow fluffy friends. Written by Craig Mazin (The Last of Us) and directed by Kyle Balda (Despicable Me), The Sheep Detectives also stars Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Molly Gordon, Emma Thompson, and many more A-list stars.

Braun and O'Down sat down with ScreenRant for a round of Debunking AI, where they debated their own detecting skills, the acting prowess involved in playing sheep, and their favorite scene partners.

Who Would Solve The Sheep Detectives Mystery?

ScreenRant Exclusive Spring Movie Preview - The Sheep Detectives

The Fargo-meets-Paddington (a cheeky logline courtesy of AI) plot of The Sheep Detectives follows unconventional and inexperienced investigators, both animal and human, as they work to solve a murder. When posed the ultimate philosophical question of who would solve said murder in an alternate universe — between Cousin Greg, Rory Trenneman, Wolverine, Professor X, or Elaine Benes — the actors really put their thinking hats on.

"You've got to think Professor X is going to have him because he's some kind of robot man," O'Dowd offered. "I don't know who Roy Trenneman is," Braun joked, referring to his costar's beloved The IT Crowd character, "but I think he's definitely solving this. That's your guy."

The AI's verdict was that Cousin Greg would win by accident, but Professor X would technically already know the answer, which was agreed upon as an acceptable and humorous solution. They pushed back on the idea of solving crimes in real life, though. "I ain't no cop, man," O'Down demurred. "I feel like I'll just let him get away with it. Don't want to chase anybody down!"

Nicholas Braun's Favorite Scene Partner For The Sheep Detectives

Hugh Jackman writing a will in The Sheep Detectives

O'Dowd "didn't have the opportunity" to act alongside anyone, seeing as he was in a recording studio voicing a sheep, which was a fact that AI seemed to struggle to comprehend. However, Braun was very eager to share his preferred scene partner, although the story was rather bittersweet.

I have one scene where Hugh Jackman and I are in the same room. When filming, we had an interaction and a line spoken to each other. In the film, it's not there, but it was still my favorite moment of the movie. Just getting to look at Hugh and speak to him.

The Sheep Detectives arrives in theaters on May 8.

Check out our previous Debunking AI interviews here: