Animal Rights Group Urges Ridley Scott to Halt Live Animal Use in ’Gladiator 2’ Filming

"We urgently call on director Ridley Scott to stop turning animal suffering into entertainment, as the ancient Romans did, and on stars Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington to do their part in bringing Ridley Scott into the 21st century," called People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), a non-profit organization whose purpose is to defend animal rights, in a letter it sent to the American-British director. It claims that the association Animal Liberation Malta and it have received information that a horse’s leg had given way on the set, probably due to the heat. The animal would have worked in "disastrous conditions". In addition, the film "exploits" real macaque monkeys.

"The scorching summer heat and oppressive costumes are a dangerous mix for horses, which are naturally nervous animals, prone to fleeing and injuring themselves, and vulnerable to the stress of a film set. The film and television industries have a history littered with horse injuries and even deaths on set. We sincerely hope that Gladiator 2 will avoid adding a new death to this list," the two associations add.

PETA also wanted to warn Ridley Scott of the danger of using macaques. "[...] We wanted to make sure you know that macaques can be unpredictable and that it is in the nature of monkeys to solve problems through aggression, so they can attack and bite humans, and they will. Their teeth are sharp, their jaws are powerful, and their bites are often severe. Macaques often carry the B virus, which can be fatal to humans; keeping them in close proximity to humans also poses public health risks."

"Despite the SAG-AFTRA strike, we have learned that production is expected to continue from Tuesday to Saturday next week. We urgently ask you to immediately cancel any plans to use real animals for the film," the two associations conclude. Questioned by The Los Angeles Times, a source close to the production assured that "there have been no injuries or incidents involving animals" on the set. She will add that certified animal safety representatives working for the American Humane Society were present during filming.