[ Back to All articles ]

The Hollywood Reporter announces Colossal Biosciences’ groundbreaking achievement in bringing back the dire wolf after nearly 10,000 years of extinction. The genetic engineering company has successfully birthed three dire wolves—two six-month-old males named Romulus and Remus, and a female puppy named Khaleesi—through DNA extracted from ancient fossils and 20 precise edits to 14 genes of the gray wolf genetic code. Using CRISPR technology, Colossal gave the wolves fluffy white coats based on their analysis of the original species. In a surprising Hollywood connection, filmmaker Peter Jackson (an investor in Colossal) loaned the company the official 330-pound Iron Throne prop from Game of Thrones promotions, which he purchased last year for $1.49 million, for a photoshoot with the wolves. Author George R.R. Martin, who popularized dire wolves in his fantasy series, has joined as a cultural advisor and investor, even flying to meet the wolves at their 2,000-acre preserve. The article notes that while many associate dire wolves with fantasy, they were real predators that likely went extinct due to the disappearance of their large prey. Colossal has simultaneously cloned two litters of critically endangered red wolves as part of its broader mission combining de-extinction with conservation efforts. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/game-of-thrones-dire-wolves-return-extinction-1236181901/