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Apple’s Plagiarized Thriller: The Hunt Continues

Published

3 hours ago

February 24, 2026

Frédéric Maranber, Cédric Appietto, Benoît Magimel, Damien Bonnard and Manuel Guillot in "The Hunt (Traqués)," premiering March 4, 2026 on Apple TV.

In a surprising turn of events in November, Apple found itself in hot water when it was revealed that a new thriller, The Hunt, had to be pulled from its schedule just weeks before its scheduled debut due to allegations of plagiarism. However, after resolving the necessary legal issues, the show is back on track.

Although Apple did not make an official statement regarding the controversy, French media reporter Clément Garin pointed out striking similarities between The Hunt and a 1973 novel by Douglas Fairbairn called Shoot, raising concerns. As a result, Apple quietly removed all references to the show from its press pages.

Both The Hunt and Shoot follow a group of friends on a hunting trip who are attacked by another group of hunters. Despite surviving the initial encounter with minor injuries, the friends can’t shake the feeling that they are being hunted.

Franck (Benoît Magimel) and his close-knit group of friends enjoy hunting together on weekends. However, their peaceful outing takes a dark turn when they are targeted by a mysterious group of hunters. After a member of their party is shot, Franck’s friends retaliate, leading to a tense confrontation. As they try to move on from the incident, Franck and his wife Krystel (Mélanie Laurent) begin to suspect that they are being watched or worse, hunted by vengeful pursuers.

Apple TV Press

While adaptations of existing stories are common in the entertainment industry, the issue with The Hunt arose from the director, Cédric Anger, allegedly failing to disclose that the show was based on an established work when pitching it to Apple. This omission sparked the plagiarism controversy just two weeks before the show’s scheduled premiere on December 3, 2025.

Apple and Gaumont, the production company behind the series, halted the release to consult legal counsel on the best course of action. Initially considering legal action against Anger for misrepresentation, they ultimately opted to secure the necessary rights for the show to proceed.

According to Deadline, The Hunt is now set to premiere on March 4 after resolving the copyright issue. Gaumont released a statement acknowledging the oversight and emphasizing their commitment to respecting intellectual property rights.

The release of The Hunt was postponed in December 2025 after it was discovered that the project, presented as original, was based on Douglas Fairbairn’s Shoot. Gaumont promptly took steps to rectify the situation by obtaining the necessary permissions, underscoring their dedication to upholding the rights of creators.

Notably, the removal of Anger’s creator credit and the subsequent reevaluation of his involvement in the show hint at the aftermath of the plagiarism scandal. Despite directing most of the episodes, Anger’s role in the series moving forward remains uncertain.