Apple TV has indefinitely delayed its French thriller series The Hunt just days before its scheduled premiere, following plagiarism accusations from a 1973 novel titled Shoot.
French media expert Clément Garin highlighted striking similarities in the plot: a group of friends on a hunting trip encounters a rival group, leading to a fatal shooting and a subsequent cover-up.
Production Response and Removal
Both Apple and production company Gaumont discovered the issues at the last minute. They have removed all traces of the show, including press materials, trailers, and listings, to mitigate potential legal risks.
Gaumont stated that the broadcast has been temporarily postponed while they conduct a thorough review, emphasizing their serious stance on intellectual property matters.
The series, directed by Cédric Anger and starring Benoît Magimel and Mélanie Laurent, was set to debut on December 3 with two episodes, followed by weekly releases. Apple has not issued an official comment, and the show’s future remains uncertain.
Pattern of Last-Minute Delays
This marks the second recent instance of Apple TV pulling a completed series shortly before launch.
- The Savant, starring Jessica Chastain, was postponed days before its September 26 premiere for unspecified reasons, possibly linked to sensitive storyline elements following the September 10 killing of Charlie Kirk.
Gaumont and Apple are reportedly preparing legal action against Anger for deceit.
