"A Dog's Purpose" opens Jan. 27, 2017.

The upcoming movie "A Dog's Purpose" is reportedly under investigation for animal abuse.

Video obtained by TMZ shows a German Shepherd, one of at least five dogs used in the film, visibly resisting participating in a stunt with rushing water. Production sources say eight outboard motors were used in a pool outside Winning in November to film the scene, and the dog can be seen clawing at the pool's edge as a crew member attempts to push it in.

According to the celebrity gossip site, the German Shepherd ended up being submerged under the churning water, prompting someone to yell "Cut it!" Handlers could be seen immediately rushing to help the dog.

No actors are visible in the clip, but TMZ reports director Lasse Hallstrom ("The Cider House Rules," "Dear John") was present during filming of the scene. Amblin Partners and Universal Pictures say they have seen the video and are investigating.

"Fostering a safe environment and ensuring the ethical treatment of our animal actors was of the utmost importance to those involved in making this film and we will look into the circumstances surrounding this video," the companies said in a statement.

Based on the best-selling novel by W. Bruce Cameron, the film is told from the perspective of a dog (voiced by Josh Gad) who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love. Dennis Quaid, Britt Robertson and Peggy Lipton also star.

According to USA Today, the book "A Dog's Purpose" has sold 2.5 million copies since its release in 2010 and is currently No. 1 on the newspaper's Best-Selling Books list. It's the first publication about a dog to top the chart since "Marley & Me," which was also adapted into a film, in 2006.

"A Dog's Purpose" is scheduled for release in theaters on Jan. 27.

Update: Hallstrom and Gad have both spoken out, calling the video "disturbing" and denying being on the set when the alleged abuse occurred. American Humane says it has suspended the on-set safety representative who was working on "A Dog's Purpose"; an investigation is ongoing.