Geoffrey Rush: New Comedy ‘Shearing The Love’ Announced

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Geoffrey Rush to Star in New Zealand Sports Comedy “Shearing The Love”

A heartwarming and hilarious new sports comedy, “Shearing The Love,” is set to begin production in early 2026, boasting Geoffrey Rush as its headlining star. The film marks the directorial debut of New Zealand writer and producer Tom Hern, known for his work on acclaimed projects like The Panthers, The Dark Horse, and Shadow In The Cloud.

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A Unique competitive world

“Shearing The Love” is a comedy centered around the high-stakes world of competitive sheep shearing – often dubbed the “Golden Shears,” the Olympics of the sport. The story follows Brian Castlehead, portrayed by Daniel Musgrove (Westside), a former celebrity hairstylist attempting to prove his worth to his father, played by Rush, by entering the competition. Musgrove also co-wrote the original screenplay alongside Natalie Medlock, Hern, and Nua Finau.

Pro tip:-Sheep shearing is a highly skilled trade. Shearers must master technique to quickly and safely remove a sheep’s fleece without injury to the animal.

International Appeal and Distribution

The project has already secured pre-sales in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom with deals finalized with Rialto and Vertigo. Essential Film Group will be handling sales at the upcoming American Film Market, signaling strong international interest in the film. This early traction is notably noteworthy, as one industry insider noted, “amid a challenging climate in the indie scene, this project has rocketed into greenlight. This reflects the worldwide, fun appeal of the film.”

Reader question:-New Zealand’s sheep population historically exceeded its human population. While the ratio has changed, sheep farming remains a vital part of the nation’s economy and culture.

From Local Success to Global Stage

The film is produced by Halaifonua (Nua) Finau, whose previous work, Red, White & Brass, achieved notable success, becoming New zealand’s highest-grossing local film in 2023. Executive producers include Andy Thompson, James Norrie, and Nina Kolokouri of Essential, Kelly Rogers of Rialto Distribution International, Ed Caffrey of Vertigo Releasing, and Brad Smeele. Finau and Hern’s production company, Tavake (Madam), is also producing.

A Comedy in the Spirit of Classics

Hern envisions “Shearing The Love” as a raucous yet heartwarming comedy, drawing inspiration from beloved films like talladega Nights and Kingpin. “Shearing is a raucous, heartwarming sports comedy…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,'” Hern commented. Kelly Rogers, CEO of Rialto Distribution, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Shearing The Love is comedy gold, a genuine crowd-pleaser…audiences are going to be laughing, cheering, and talking about it long after the credits roll.”

Caffrey added, “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 scheduled to begin in New Zealand in the first quarter of 2026, promising a fresh and