Apple TV+ Series Pulled Amid Plagiarism Storm
In a significant development for the streaming giant, Apple TV+ has been forced to postpone the release of its highly anticipated French thriller, The Hunt. The decision comes directly after the series faced serious accusations of plagiarising the story of a 1976 action film. The show, known in French as À l'Ombre des Forêts, was originally scheduled to premiere on 3 December.
Similarities to 1970s Thriller 'Shoot'
The production company behind the series, Gaumont, has confirmed the delay, stating it is conducting a thorough review to address the concerns. "We take intellectual property matters very seriously," a Gaumont spokesperson said. The controversy centres on alleged similarities between the plot of The Hunt and the 1976 US/Canadian movie Shoot, which itself was an adaptation of a 1973 novel by Douglas Fairbairn.
According to the official synopsis, The Hunt follows a man named Franck, played by César award-winner Benoît Magimel, and his long-time friends whose weekend hunting trip turns deadly. They find themselves targeted by another group of hunters who continue to stalk them after they return from their excursion. This premise bears a striking resemblance to the plot of Shoot, where a group of hunters in the Canadian wilderness is attacked by a rival party, leading to a fatal shooting and a desperate flight back to civilisation, all while fearing retaliation.
A Recurring Problem for Apple TV+
This is not the first time an Apple TV+ show has been pulled shortly before its launch this year. In September, the platform postponed The Savant, a series starring Jessica Chastain, just three days before its air date following the shooting of a right-wing activist. Chastain publicly expressed her disagreement with the decision, stating she and Apple were "not aligned" on the pause. That series remains without a new release date.
For The Hunt, all promotional materials, including press releases and official trailers, have been removed from Apple's website. The allegations were first reported in the UK by AppleInsider, after being highlighted by French media expert Clément Garin. Both Apple TV+ and Gaumont have been contacted for further comment on the situation.
