‘With this film, we hope to shine a light on the extent to which animal agriculture and environmental destruction contribute to (future pandemics).’

Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix are now part of a documentary that delves ‘the connection between animal agriculture, environmental destruction and the emergence of zoonotic diseases’.

The vegan power couple are executively producing ‘The End of Medicine’, a documentary written by Cowspiracy filmmaker Keegan Kuhn and directed by Alex Lockwood-the award-winning British director of 73 Cows and Test Subjects.

Work on the new film exploring the impact our treatment of the natural world and the animals within it has on infectious diseases and resistance to crucial medicines began in October 2019.

The film includes interviews with world -renowned scientists, whose research and testimonies show that all deadly ‘superbug’ outbreaks, including COVID-19, swine and avian flu, MRSA infections, multi-drug resistant organisms, and a host of food-borne illnesses have all originated from animal agriculture.

The film is slated to wrap production in late 2020, with a likely release in 2021.

‘Eye-opening CTA’

“We hope that The End of Medicine is an eye-opening call to action and ignites a spark of willingness to change our habits,” said Mara and Phoenix in a joint statement.

 “The science is irrefutable.

“Modern animal agriculture will continue to make us sick if we don’t radically change our patterns of consumption.”

 Commenting on the movie, Lockwood said: “With this film, we hope to shine a light on the extent to which animal agriculture and environmental destruction contribute to these emerging threats.

• Read: Joaquin Phoenix calls meat workers to anonymously report slaughterhouse abuses through online tip portal

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