AJ McLean from Backstreet Boys Stars in Comedy ‘Shearing The Love’ Alongside Geoffrey Rush as Filming Concludes in New Zealand
AJ McLean Joins Geoffrey Rush in Upcoming Sports Comedy ‘Shearing The Love’
AJ McLean, a member of the renowned Backstreet Boys, is set to star alongside Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush in the new sports comedy Shearing The Love. The film has recently wrapped production in New Zealand, with Essential Film Group taking on sales responsibilities at the Cannes market.
McLean and Rush are not just acting in the film; they both serve as executive producers as well. Adding musical talent to the lineup, New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Daniel Bedingfield will also appear as himself.
Joining the cast are Dan Musgrove and Dom Hetrakul. The film tells the story of Brian Castlehead, portrayed by Musgrove, a once-acclaimed hairstylist who returns home to the competitive world of sheep shearing to prove himself to his father, Bob, played by Rush.
In Shearing The Love, McLean plays a version of himself, stepping into the high-pressure arena of New Zealand’s Golden Shears, the championship for the sport, while engaging with a family in turmoil.
The cast further includes Rima Te Wiata, known for her role in Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Johanna Cosgrove from Madam, and Michael Hurst from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.
The screenplay was crafted by Dan Musgrove, Natalie Medlock, and Tom Hern, who is making his feature directorial debut. Producers Nua Finau and Belindalee Hope are collaborating through Tavake, a company founded by Hern and Finau, along with Be Hope Films Limited.
Currently, the Backstreet Boys are holding a residency at Sphere in Las Vegas. McLean has also hosted Netflix’s music competition series Building the Band.
Reflecting on his involvement, McLean expressed, “I was really drawn to the heart of it, the humor, the sense of family, and the journey of identity at the center of the story. It’s such a uniquely New Zealand world, but those themes are universal. Getting to be part of something like that and share it with a cast led by someone like Geoffrey was something truly special.”
Rush shared his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “I won’t be sheepish. I shall be bold. The film community in New Zealand always makes storytelling sensational: new and full of zeal. I’ve never worked with a bunch of wilder people. Nothing was done in the shadows. We all had a whale of a ride. Everyone, at some time, a warrior. All took flight like Concordes. And it’s a hilarious comedy when sheep shearing champions clash with the drama of gender-defining hairdressers in the salons of the Long White Cloud.”
Shearing The Love is made in collaboration with the New Zealand Film Commission. Rialto Distribution will handle its release in Australia and New Zealand, while Vertigo will manage distribution in the UK.
McLean is represented by Wright Entertainment Group and Attentive Entertainment Group. Te Wiata is represented by Auckland Actors, while Johnson & Laird represents both Cosgrove and Hurst.
