The Hunt finally arrived on Apple TV+ on March 4, 2026, after a three-month delay caused by a plagiarism controversy. The French-language thriller brings together an award-winning cast led by Mélanie Laurent and Benoît Magimel in a tense story about a hunting trip that turns into a nightmare.
The series follows Franck and his friends who enjoy weekend hunting together until they cross paths with another group that starts targeting them without reason. What begins as a regular outing becomes a fight for survival, and the secrets they keep afterwards pull them into a world of paranoia and revenge. The first two episodes dropped this week, with new episodes releasing every Wednesday through April 1.
Here is everything you need to know about the The Hunt cast and characters who bring this gripping story to life.
Benoît Magimel Plays Franck, The Man at the Center of the Nightmare
Three-time César Award winner Benoît Magimel takes on the lead role of Franck, a man whose love for hunting with friends destroys his peaceful life. Magimel, who won Best Actor at Cannes for “Pacifiction,” brings depth to a character forced to protect his family while hiding a terrible secret.
Franck enjoys simple weekends in the woods with his longtime friends. But everything changes when another hunting party attacks them without warning. After one of his friends gets shot, they fight back and leave one of the attackers injured on the ground. They escape and decide to stay quiet about what happened.
The trouble really starts when Franck returns home to his wife Krystel. He cannot shake the feeling that someone is watching him. The hunters who attacked them are now the ones doing the hunting, and they want revenge. Magimel shows Franck’s slow descent into fear as he realizes nowhere is safe.
Mélanie Laurent Stars as Krystel, Franck’s Wife Who Senses Something Wrong
Two-time César Award winner Mélanie Laurent plays Krystel, Franck’s wife who notices her husband changing after that weekend trip. Laurent is known worldwide for her role in “Inglourious Basterds” and recently starred in “Wingwomen” for Netflix.
Krystel represents normal life that Franck tries so hard to protect. She notices his distance, his fear, and the lies he tells to cover up what happened in the woods. Laurent brings a quiet strength to the role, playing a woman who slowly realizes her husband is in serious danger but does not know why.
The dynamic between Magimel and Laurent drives the emotional core of the series. While Franck tries to shield her from the truth, Krystel must decide whether to push for answers or trust the man she married. Her character becomes key as the hunters close in on their home.
The Hunting Group: Franck’s Friends Who Share the Deadly Secret
The series builds its tension around the group of friends who were with Franck when the violence started. Each member of the hunting party plays a role in keeping the secret, and each deals with the aftermath differently.
Damien Bonnard joins the cast as one of Franck’s closest friends in the hunting group. Bonnard is a rising star in French cinema, known for his work in “Les Misérables” (2019) and “Stillwater.” His character must wrestle with guilt and fear as the hunters begin tracking them one by one.
Manuel Guillot appears as another member of the hunting party. His character represents the practical side of the group, focused on survival rather than guilt. Guillot brings experience from French television and film to the role.
Cédric Appietto rounds out the core hunting group. Appietto’s character faces the hardest choices when the hunters start their revenge. The actor has built his career in French productions and adds authenticity to the tight-knit friend group.
Frédéric Maranber and Angelyna Danabe Mignot in Supporting Roles
Frédéric Maranber appears in the series as part of the extended cast. While details about his specific character remain under wraps, Maranber adds depth to the world of the series. His previous work includes French film and television projects that showcase his range as a performer.
Angelyna Danabe Mignot takes on a role that connects to the main story in important ways. The young actress brings fresh energy to the series and holds her own alongside the veteran cast members.
Paul Beaurepaire, Yann Goven, and Sarah Pachoud Round Out the Ensemble
Paul Beaurepaire plays a character whose actions may influence how the revenge plot unfolds. Beaurepaire has appeared in several French productions and brings intensity to his role.
Yann Goven joins the cast in a part that connects to the local community where the hunting takes place. His character represents the ordinary people caught in the middle of this violent conflict.
Sarah Pachoud plays a role that adds emotional weight to the story. Pachoud’s performance helps ground the series in real human reactions to extraordinary circumstances.
Patrick de Vallette appears in the series as well, rounding out a cast that mixes experienced actors with fresh faces. De Vallette brings decades of French cinema experience to the project.
The Other Hunters: The Antagonists Tracking Franck and His Friends
The series builds its suspense around the mysterious hunting group that attacks Franck and his friends. While the show keeps their identities hidden at first, viewers slowly learn who they are and why they will not stop until they get revenge.
The other hunting party includes actors whose faces remain mostly hidden behind hunting gear and shadows in early episodes. This choice by director Cédric Anger makes them feel like forces of nature rather than regular people. They appear everywhere and nowhere at once, turning the hunters into the hunted.
When one of their own gets hurt during the initial confrontation, they decide to track every person involved in the fight. Their methods grow more dangerous as the series continues, and their connection to the local area makes escape nearly impossible for Franck and his friends.
Director Cédric Anger and the Creative Team Behind The Hunt
Cédric Anger directs most episodes of The Hunt and created the series. Anger, a César Award nominee for “Next Time I’ll Aim for the Heart,” builds tension slowly throughout the six-episode season. He focuses on the psychological toll of living with a deadly secret rather than just action sequences.
Guillaume Renusson directs Episode 3, bringing his own visual style to the series. Renusson previously directed the film “The Rapture” and adds variety to the storytelling.
The series comes from Gaumont, the French production company behind hits like “Lupin” for Netflix. Executive producers Isabelle Degeorges, Clémentine Vaudaux, Alexis Barqueiro, and Sidonie Dumas bring decades of experience in French television to the project.
The Plagiarism Controversy That Delayed Release
The Hunt was originally scheduled to premiere on December 3, 2025, but Apple TV+ pulled it from the schedule about two weeks before release . French media reported the series faced plagiarism allegations from Bernard Petit’s 1973 novel “La Traque” .
Gaumont launched an internal investigation and discovered the series shared plot similarities with Douglas Fairbairn’s 1973 novel “Shoot,” which became a 1976 film . The production company released a statement explaining they immediately took steps to identify rights holders and obtain required authorizations .
“Originally scheduled for December 2025, The Hunt’s release was postponed after it was identified in November 2025 that the project, presented as an original work, was based on an existing work, Douglas Fairbairn’s Shoot,” Gaumont said in their statement . “As soon as this information came to its attention, Gaumont, the series’ producer, immediately took the necessary steps to identify the rights holders, and obtain the required authorizations.”
Apple TV+ now credits the series as based on Fairbairn’s novel, resolving the legal issues before release .
Where to Watch The Hunt and Episode Release Schedule
The Hunt premiered globally on Apple TV+ on March 4, 2026 with the first two episodes . New episodes release every Wednesday through April 1, 2026 .
Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and worldwide can stream the series with an Apple TV+ subscription. The service costs $12.99 per month in the US and offers a seven-day free trial for new subscribers .
The complete first season runs six episodes total, telling a complete story that does not require future seasons . This makes it a perfect choice for viewers who want a thriller with a beginning, middle, and end.
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Why The Hunt Stands Out Among International Thrillers
The series represents Apple TV+’s continued investment in French-language content alongside shows like “Lupin” and “Drops of God” . By bringing together award-winning French talent, the streamer offers global audiences access to high-quality international storytelling.
The cast alone makes The Hunt worth watching. Benoît Magimel and Mélanie Laurent rank among France’s most respected actors, and their performances lift the material beyond typical thriller fare. The supporting cast adds authenticity to every scene.
The premise taps into basic human fears. What happens when ordinary people make one terrible choice? How far will others go to get even? The Hunt explores these questions without easy answers, building suspense through character decisions rather than cheap scares.
For viewers who enjoy psychological thrillers with strong performances, The Hunt delivers exactly what the genre promises. The six-episode format keeps the story tight without unnecessary padding, and the French setting adds visual beauty to the darkness of the plot.
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The Hunt brings together one of the most impressive French casts on any streaming platform this year, and VvipTimes will keep you updated on all the best international series worth your time.
