HBO confirmed today in a press statement that all future production on the horseracing drama LUCK will cease immediately, following the third death of a horse used in the filming of the show.
The drama, starring Dustin Hoffman as crime kingpin Chester ‘Ace’ Bernstein and centering around his involvement with the failing fortunes of the Santa Anita racetrack was hyped up as a major heavy hitter in TV land for some time, and is currently airing it’s first season on Sky Atlantic. However the programme has come in for much criticism from animal right activists, particularly Peta, following the reported deaths of two horses during the filming of a number of race scenes for the show’s first season.
The AHA (American Humane Association) called for production to halt at the Santa Anita Racetrack after the second horse’s death, and filming for the show resumed on the show’s second season in February after new protocols were put in place. However, with the death of a third horse on set this week (in accidental circumstances, we must add), show producers (including renowned film director Michael Mann, director of hits such as HEAT and COLLATERAL, who directed the pilot episode and serves as executive producer on the show) and HBO have come to the decision to call time on the show:
“It is with heartbreak that executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann together with HBO have decided to cease all future production on the series ‘Luck’,” states the HBO press statement.
“While we maintained the highest safety standards possible, accidents unfortunately happen and it is impossible to guarantee they won’t in the future. Accordingly, we have reached this difficult decision.”
Fans of the show, which pulled in solid ratings for HBO when it premiered in December, will naturally be disappointed by the announcement. The remaining episodes of the first season will be aired later this month.
Source: BBC News
