Apple has pulled a new French thriller from its Apple TV lineup just days before its planned global debut, after allegations that the series copied the plot of a book that came out in the 1970s. The eight-episode series, titled “The Hunt” (Traqués in French), had been set to premiere on Apple TV next Wednesday, December 3, with a two-episode launch followed by weekly installments through the end of the month. But then last week, Apple quietly removed all the trailers, listings, and other promotional materials for the show from its app and website without explanation.
Now, multiple outlets are reporting the decision was made around allegations accusing Cédric Anger, the creator and director of the show, of lifting the plot of “The Hunt” from a 1973 novel called “Shoot,” written by Douglas Fairbairn, which was later adapted into a 1976 movie of the same name. French journalist Clément Garin was the first to flag the similarities on his Substack.
French studio Gaumont, which produced “The Hunt,” has acknowledged that the series is on hold while it looks into the claims. In a statement shared with Variety, the company said: “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.”
