A Mammoth Stage: Colossal Biosciences Unites AI and Hollywood to Revive Extinct Species

At the intersection of science and spectacle, Colossal Biosciences is rewriting the rules of de‑extinction. Their latest initiative, detailed in Distractify, spotlights a fusion of AI‑driven genomics and cinematic storytelling to resurrect long‑lost species—from woolly mammoths and dodos to New Zealand’s giant moa. With $15 million invested by Peter Jackson and Māori collaborators, the moa project taps both advanced genome reconstruction and cultural voices. Colossal previously made headlines with “woolly mice” and the revival of the dire‑wolf—gray wolves with 20 gene edits, while preserving rigorous animal welfare protocols. Critics warn de‑extinction risks overshadow conservation, yet Colossal argues these projects serve as testbeds for protecting endangered species today. By melding computational biology, celebrity influence, and indigenous partnerships, Colossal is aiming not just to raise extinct creatures, but to vault biotech into a new era of ecological restoration.

Read the full feature in Distractify