A new Apple TV thriller series titled “The Hunt“ has been suddenly pulled from its release schedule just two weeks before its planned debut. The show was removed after allegations emerged that its story was copied from a 1973 novel.
Apple deleted all trailers and information about the French-language series from its platform in late November. The show, which was originally set to premiere on December 3, 2025, has been indefinitely postponed while the production company, Gaumont, investigates the claims.
The Reason Behind the Delay
The last-minute cancellation stems from an intellectual property dispute. Reports confirm that the series, called Traqués in France, is facing allegations of plagiarism.
The show’s plot has significant similarities to “Shoot,” a 1973 novel by American author Douglas Fairbairn. This novel was previously adapted into a film in 1976. The core story involves a group of hunters who are violently targeted by another group during a weekend trip, a premise that closely matches that of The Hunt.
According to industry sources, the similarities were not disclosed to Gaumont or Apple TV during production. The issue was reportedly brought to light by French journalist Clément Garin. In response to the allegations, Gaumont released a statement saying, “The broadcast of our series The Hunt has been temporarily postponed. We are currently conducting a thorough review to address any questions related to our production. We take intellectual property matters very seriously.”
What ‘The Hunt’ Was About
The Hunt was created and directed by Cédric Anger and featured a cast including Benoît Magimel and Mélanie Laurent. The story followed Franck and his friends, who regularly spent their weekends hunting.
Their routine trip turns into a nightmare when they encounter another group of hunters who suddenly and inexplicably begin to target them. After one of Franck’s friends is shot, the group fights back, manages to escape, and agrees to keep the incident a secret. However, upon returning to his normal life, Franck begins to feel that he and his friends are being watched and tracked by the other hunters, who are now seeking revenge.
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What Happens Now
With the premiere postponed, the future of The Hunt is uncertain. Apple has taken the extraordinary step of scrubbing nearly all promotional material for the show from its official channels, including the trailer from its YouTube account and the show’s listing from the Apple TV app.
This is the second time in recent months that Apple TV has halted the release of a series just before its premiere. The service also delayed the launch of the series Savant in September 2025. Unlike The Hunt, Apple confirmed that Savant would be released at a later date.
For The Hunt, the path forward is less clear. The production company Gaumont is conducting a full investigation into the creative origins of the series. Any decision to release the show would likely require a legal agreement with the estate of Douglas Fairbairn, who passed away in 1997.
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