Apple Pauses Thriller Series “The Hunt” Amid Plagiarism Allegations
A new Apple TV+ thriller series,”The Hunt” (“Traqués” in French),has been abruptly pulled from the streaming platform’s schedule just days before its planned December 3rd debut,following accusations of plagiarism. The series, produced by French studio Gaumont, has been “temporarily postponed” while an internal investigation is conducted, according too a company statement.
Gaumont confirmed the cancellation after allegations surfaced that the series’ plot bears striking similarities to a 1970s novel and its subsequent 1976 film adaptation, “Shoot,” by Douglas Fairbairn. A French media expert first brought the concerns to light, prompting the studio to take action.
“The Hunt” centers around a group of hunters who are ambushed in a forest,leading to a deadly confrontation and a subsequent pursuit of revenge. According to reports, the narrative echoes the core premise of “shoot,” wich also revolves around rival hunting groups and escalating violence. Benoît Magimel, a celebrated actor with a Palme d’Or and multiple César awards, stars in the leading role.
The initial plan was to release the first two episodes of “The Hunt” next week, followed by weekly installments through the end of December. Apple TV+ has since removed all traces of the series from its platform.
One analyst noted that the allegations come at a sensitive time for Apple, as the company continues to invest heavily in international content to broaden its subscriber base. Apple has been actively pursuing shows from Germany and increasingly filming productions outside of the US, such as the second season of “Hijack,” which is set in the berlin subway.
Gaumont emphasized its commitment to intellectual property rights, stating that it takes such matters “very seriously” and is conducting an “extensive investigation” to address all concerns surrounding the production. Apple has yet to issue a public comment, deferring all communication to Studio Gaumont.
The situation underscores the growing scrutiny faced by streaming services as they rapidly expand their content libraries and rely on a diverse range of international productions. The outcome of Gaumont’s investigation will likely set a precedent for how Apple handles similar allegations in the future.
Why did this happen? The Apple TV+ series “The Hunt” was postponed and ultimately cancelled due to allegations of plagiarism. A French media expert noticed significant similarities between the series’ plot and the 1976 film “shoot,” based on a 1970s novel by Douglas Fairbairn.
Who is involved? Key players include Apple TV+, French studio Gaumont (the producer), actor Benoît Magimel (the lead), Douglas Fairbairn (author of “Shoot”), and the unnamed french media expert who initially raised the concerns.
What is “The Hunt”? “the Hunt” (or “Traqués” in French) is a thriller series centered on a group of hunters ambushed in a forest, leading to a revenge-fueled pursuit.
How did it end? Gaumont initiated an internal investigation and confirmed the series’ cancellation. Apple TV+ removed all traces of the show from its platform. The investigation’s outcome will likely influence how Apple addresses similar allegations in the future. Apple has deferred all comment to Gaumont.
