Peta has criticised producers for using live animals on TV sets after a horse died of heart failure during filming of the new Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power TV series.
The animal rights group said producers should use CGI to put animals in films and TV shows from now on after the horse died during the production of Amazon series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
A statement confirmed that the horse died of a “cardiac arrest” on March 21 during rehearsal filming in the UK for the second series of the fantasy spin-off.
A spokesman for Amazon Studios said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that a production horse died. The incident took place in the morning whilst the horse was being exercised prior to rehearsals. The trainer was not in costume, and filming had yet to commence. Both a veterinarian and a representative of the American Humane Association were present at the time. The independent necropsy has confirmed that the horse died of cardiac failure.”
It has been reported that more than 30 horses were on the set the day the horse died suddenly and now Peta has come out to say the “exploitation of animals” must stop and accused producers of living in the dark ages.
Peta senior vice-president Lisa Lange said in a statement: “It seems that living underground with the orcs is par for the course for the producers of The Rings of Power, because they have the option to use CGI, mechanical rigs and other humane methods.
“Peta is calling on the show’s creators – and all other producers – to take on a new quest without using any real horses.”
All horses used in the second season of The Rings of Power were provided by the Devil’s Horseman, a supplier of horses and stunt people in the film industry.
This is not the first time that the Lord of the Rings franchise has come under fire for its use of live animals on production sets.
In 2012 Peter Jackson was criticised for the deaths of three horses during the the production of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
At that time, Peta launched an online petition urging filmgoers to “refuse to see movies” where animals have been harmed.
Jackson later denied the claims that any animals had been mistreated, calling them “unsubstantiated” on a Facebook post where he wrote: “The production regrets that Peta has chosen to make such a serious allegation, which has distressed many of the dedicated Kiwis who worked with animals on the film.”
The Rings of Power is a prequel to The Lord of the Rings set in Middle-earth thousands of years before the events of the film series.
