Cameron's "The Abyss" Pulled From Disney+ Over Rat Scene

James Cameron's acclaimed sci-fi movie The Abyss has been pulled from Disney+ UK due to containing a controversial banned scene.

The original 1989 film features a sequence where technicians submerge a live rat in fluorocarbon fluid during production. While reports indicate the rodent survived filming, animal welfare organizations including the RSPCA successfully campaigned for its removal nearly four decades ago.

UK censors at the BBFC mandated cuts under both the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937 for theatrical showings and the Video Recordings Act 1984 for home media releases. These regulations similarly prohibit broadcasting the uncut version on UK television.

However, Disney+ UK accidentally streamed the uncensored version containing the rat scene when adding the film last April. The RSPCA identified what it calls a regulatory "loophole" allowing historically prohibited animal footage to bypass existing content restrictions on streaming platforms.

RSPCA Head of Public Affairs David Bowles stated: "We're deeply troubled by this loophole permitting banned animal cruelty depictions to reach viewers through digital platforms when they're prohibited elsewhere."

"While we understand The Abyss' rat survived filming, this problematic scene has been rightfully censored across all other UK distribution channels since the 1980s," Bowles continued. "Streaming services shouldn't become exceptions to longstanding animal welfare protections."

Following this revelation, Disney has temporarily removed The Abyss from its UK streaming catalog. Bowles clarified: "This isn't about censorship - we'd welcome Disney+ restoring the film after removing this single problematic scene, consistent with its UK cinema and home media releases."

"Our concern focuses on updating content regulations to properly govern streaming platforms, ensuring viewers aren't exposed to historically banned animal cruelty depictions," Bowles concluded.

Disney hasn't announced when The Abyss will return to Disney+ UK with the required edits.