Apple TV+ delays French thriller “The Hunt” after plagiarism claims surface, pulling trailers and launching a review of its storyline.
Apple TV+ has hit the pause button on its upcoming French thriller The Hunt after plagiarism accusations surfaced just days before its expected release.
The high-stakes drama, starring acclaimed actors Benoît Magimel and Mélanie Laurent, was originally set to premiere on December 3 — but now, everything from trailers to press materials has vanished from Apple’s platforms.
The series, known in French as À l’Ombre des Forêts, follows Franck (played by Magimel) and a tight-knit group of longtime friends who spend their weekends hunting.
Their peaceful hobby takes a dark turn when a mysterious band of hunters begins stalking them — even after they return home. But this storyline raised red flags for some media watchers, who say it bears striking similarities to Shoot, a 1976 film adapted from Douglas Fairbairn’s 1973 novel.
In Shoot, a group of macho hunters find themselves in a violent standoff with a rival group deep in the Canadian wilderness, setting off paranoia, fear, and revenge. French media expert Clément Garin was reportedly the first to call out the similarities, prompting a swirl of questions online.
Production company Gaumont responded quickly, releasing a statement confirming that the show’s debut is officially on hold. “The broadcast of our series The Hunt has been temporarily postponed,” the company said.
“We are currently conducting a thorough review to address any questions related to our production. We take intellectual property matters very seriously.”
This marks the second time Apple TV+ has pulled a major release at the last minute this year. Jessica Chastain’s anticipated series The Savant was delayed in September following the fatal shooting of political activist Charlie Kirk — a storyline too close to real-life events, according to reports.
Chastain later shared that she and the platform were “not aligned” on the choice to pause the premiere.
As of now, The Hunt doesn’t have a new release date, and Apple TV+ has not issued further comment.
Fans of psychological thrillers — and followers of Magimel and Laurent — will have to wait to see whether the series returns untouched, revised, or shelved for good.
