Get ready for some hilarious sheep-shearing action! Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush is set to star in the upcoming comedy film 'Shearing the Love', marking his directorial debut. Rush will be joined by Thai actor Dom Hetrakul and New Zealand's Daniel Musgrove, who also co-wrote the screenplay. The film is directed by Tom Hern, known for his work on 'The Panthers', 'The Dark Horse', and 'Shadow In The Cloud'.
'Shearing the Love' is a sports comedy set against the backdrop of New Zealand's Golden Shears, an international competition for competitive sheep shearing. The story follows Brian Castlehead (played by Musgrove), a former hairstylist to the stars who enters the competition world to prove himself to his father (played by Rush).
The film's production is an international affair, with deals already secured in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. It's produced by Halaifonua (Nua) Finau, whose previous film 'Red, White & Brass' became New Zealand's highest-grossing local title in 2023. The executive producers include Andy Thompson, James Norrie, Nina Kolokouri, Kelly Rogers, and Ed Caffrey.
Tom Hern describes the film as a 'raucous, heartwarming sports comedy' in the vein of 'Talladega Nights' and 'Kingpin', but with a strong emphasis on heart and self-discovery. He adds, 'A film that, through the belly laughs, declares 'wherever you come from, whatever you’re into, the best thing you can ever be is you.'
Kelly Rogers, CEO of Rialto Distribution, calls the film 'comedy gold' and a 'genuine crowd-pleaser', promising audiences 'heaps of energy' and 'outrageous moments'. Ed Caffrey adds, 'We’re so excited to be a part of the Shearing the Love team, it’s one of the funniest scripts we’ve ever read and we believe will be a comedy classic!'
Principal photography is set to begin in Q1 of 2026, and the film is expected to be a hit with audiences worldwide.
