FX and Hulu's Ben Schnetzer will play the lead role of Yorick after Barry Keoghan exited the project.
Based on the comic book series by Brian K. Vaughn and Pia Guerra, Y: The Last Man takes place in a world where a cataclysmic event has eradicated every male mammal, save for Yorick and his monkey companion Ampersand. Initially, it was reported that Y: The Last Man would use CGI to create Ampersand, but that was later changed when the pilot used a live monkey named Katie. Animal rights organization PETA blasted FX for the decision, which they cited as a cruel practice.
Now it appears FX and Y: The Last Man have reversed course. Per ComicBook.com, PETA has revealed in a press release that the series will use CGI to bring Ampersand to life. No representatives from Y: The Last Man, FX, or Hulu have commented on this development. PETA's full statement is as follows:
"PETA is celebrating a victory today: The producers of Y: The Last Man, who reportedly used a real monkey for the pilot episode, have confirmed to PETA that they will use exclusively computer-generated imagery to portray a monkey character when production resumes this week.
Below, please find a statement from PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange:
For over two years, PETA has been urging the Y: The Last Man team not to prop up a cruel industry that tears baby monkeys away from their mothers and forces them to endure a miserable life stuck inside cages and in front of cameras. The decision to switch to computer-generated imagery is the only ethical option for depicting animals on screen and is welcome news for primates who suffer in the entertainment industry."
While those behind Y: The Last Man likely wanted some realism in how they depicted Ampersand, it's definitely a better move to have the monkey be created through CGI. Not only does it prevent any potential harm coming to a real animal, the use of CGI can allow for more freedom in how Ampersand moves and emotes. Here's hoping the special effects are actually strong enough to withstand many appearances, as Ampersand is poised to play a big part in Y: The Last Man.
PETA's press release also includes another exciting tidbit: Y: The Last Man will resume production later this week. Previous reports indicated Y: The Last Man would begin filming in early 2021, but it appears its schedule has been moved up considerably. By starting up production now, it seems more likely that the series will actually premiere in 2021. There was once a time fans thought it would arrive in 2020, so it would be rather nice if Y: The Last Man could avoid any further delays. It remains to be seen if the extra CGI work will take more time, but it's still a good sign that progress is being made.
Source: ComicBook.com