Farmer thought invite for sheep to be in Hugh Jackman film was a scam

By Filipa Gaspar

A farmer thought an invitation for one of his sheep to be part of a Hollywood film starring Hugh Jackman was a scam.

William Sully, 26, sent pictures of the Norfolk Horn sheep called Nobby to the producers of the new movie The Sheep Detectives.

The movie is based on Leonie Swann's novel and follows a flock of sheep solving their shepherd's murder.

The ram was used as the model for twin characters Reggie and Ronnie voiced by Brett Goldstein.

Farmer William travelled with Nobby to Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.

William from Somerset said: "When they first messaged me I thought it was one of these scams because I didn't quite believe it was true.

"They basically asked me for some photos of a ram so I sent pictures across of him and they loved him and said he was perfect for the role.

"Then we set up a time for him to get collected and then we went down the whole day down to the studios."

He added:"I think he enjoyed himself after a while and it was a bit of a game for him to be honest.

"He has always been a bit of a diva."

From there the production team placed Nobby in a room with 56 cameras in a circle around him.

They took pictures and videos of Nobby eating and captured head movements too.

In one scene, Reggie and Ronnie headbutt a car.

William said: "That was basically one of the crew guys was headbutted on the leg."

He watched the movie recently and said the team got Nobby "spot on" as the sheep twins looked like him.

"It's incredible what they can do these days. I kind of thought it would be more like a cartoon or something.

"They got him really dead on which is quite nice because he is no longer with us.

"It is his legacy.

"He lived a hell of a life - most sheep don't get the opportunity to do what he did."

Sully also hopes the film will inspire interest in Norfolk Horn sheep.

He said: "They are rare breeds and at this day and age it's quite expensive and quite hard to keep these rare breeds going.

"Hopefully people might go and buy the breed's wool and the meat.

"It is just a bit of recognition behind the breed.

"There's less than 2,500 in the country at the minute which is not enough."