LOS ANGELES – This weekend's Los Angeles premiere of "A Dog's Purpose" has been canceled after leaked video prompted an investigation into the treatment of animals during the movie's filming, according to a statement obtained by the Hollywood Reporter Thursday.
The wide release into theaters is still scheduled for the 27th of January. Amblin also wrote in the statement:
The decision comes as animal lovers call for a boycott of the movie after TMZ published disturbing, leaked video the site says was taken on the set of "A Dog's Purpose" in 2015. The footage shows stunt dog Hercules struggling to stay out of the swirling, frothy water as a trainer forces him in.
Sources told TMZ that eight outboard motors were used to create the churning water.
Another man, who doesn't appear on camera, can be heard saying, "He ain't gonna calm down until he goes in the water ... you just gotta throw him in."
The second scene shows the dog struggling to keep its head up as the swirling water carries it across the pool. The German shepherd finally slips under the surface after running into the wall of the pool, and someone off camera can be heard yelling, "Cut it," as trainers rush over.
It's unclear whether or not the final scene was scripted, but TMZ reports that director Lasse Hallström was on set at the time, and at least one crew member was "extremely disturbed" after seeing what happened to the German shepherd.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said in a tweet after news of the video broke that they want to "send the message that dogs & other animals should be treated humanely, not as props."
"A Dog's Purpose," stars Dennis Quaid, Britt Robertson and Josh Gad. K.J. Apa, who also stars in the movie, tweeted this Thursday: