PETA Demands Boycott Of Alpha Following Animal Deaths Allegations

PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, have called for a boycott of Sony Pictures’ upcoming historical family-adventure Alpha, after five bison were supposedly killed for the film’s shooting.

“Five sensitive bison lost their lives, all so that their bodies could be used as props in this wholly forgettable flick,” PETA’s Senior Vice-President Lisa Lange said in a statement, “PETA is calling on the public to show Hollywood that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated by refusing to buy a ticket to Alpha.”

The bison carcasses were used as props in the aftermath of a pivotal hunting scene in the film, which is set 20,000 years ago – shortly after the last Ice Age – and tells an origin tale for man’s partnership with dogs.

The deaths of the bison were uncovered after a 2016 investigation by the Hollywood Reporter which found that animal wrangler John Scott, who was supposedly overseen by the American Humane Association, had contacted the Longview Beef Jerky company in order to purchase the bodies of animals they had themselves killed. However, as this would then reasonably make the film’s production responsible for the creature’s deaths it would also subsequently breach the AHA’s code of conduct for filmmaking.

Alpha will not carry a tag in its credits that reads “No animals were harmed during the making of this film”, and is due for release on the 24th of August, rated 12A. It stars Kodi Smit-McPhee, Natassia Maithe, and Leonor Varnela, and was directed by Albert Hughes.