Apple TV pulls thriller after claims it plagiarised 1973 book

In an abrupt and costly move that has sent shockwaves through the global streaming industry, Apple TV+ has pulled its highly anticipated French thriller series, The Hunt (originally titled À l’Ombre des Forêts or Traqués), from its release schedule just days before its planned global premiere. The decision follows a storm of allegations that the series, starring French heavyweights Benoît Magimel and Mélanie Laurent, is an uncredited adaptation of a 1973 novel.

The show has been effectively erased from the platform. Trailers, press assets, and promotional interviews have been scrubbed from the internet—a “digital vanishing” that suggests significant legal exposure for the tech giant and its production partner, Gaumont.

Key Facts: The Breakdown

• The Show: The Hunt (French: Traqués), a high-budget thriller starring Benoît Magimel and Mélanie Laurent.

• The Status: Indefinitely shelved. The December 3, 2025 premiere is cancelled.

• The Accusation: The plot allegedly mirrors Douglas Fairbairn’s 1973 novel Shoot (and its 1976 film adaptation) without credit or rights acquisition.

• The Whistleblower: Allegations were first surfaced by French media analyst Clément Garin.

• The Cost: Industry estimates suggest a production loss of over €15–20 million if the series cannot be salvaged.

• Immediate Impact: All traces of the show, including YouTube trailers and press site assets, were removed as of Wednesday, November 26.

The “Digital Vanishing” of The Hunt

Less than a week ago, The Hunt was positioned as Apple TV+’s marquee European release for the holiday season. The marketing machine was in full swing, highlighting the reunion of César Award-winners Magimel and Laurent.

By Wednesday evening, the show simply ceased to exist.

Subscribers searching for the title on the platform are now met with error messages. The official trailer, which had racked up millions of views, has been set to private on YouTube. This level of total erasure is rare in the streaming era, usually reserved for projects with catastrophic legal flaws rather than creative differences.

According to sources close to the production, the decision was made at the executive level in Cupertino following an emergency legal review initiated earlier this week. The rapid takedown indicates that Apple’s legal team viewed the plagiarism evidence as credible and legally dangerous.

The Core Accusation: A Mirror Image of Shoot (1973)?

The controversy centers on the work of the show’s creator and director, Cédric Anger. The allegations claim that The Hunt is a beat-for-beat reproduction of Douglas Fairbairn’s 1973 novel Shoot.

The Narrative Overlap

The similarities between the two properties are reportedly undeniable.

French journalist Clément Garin, who broke the story, reported that Anger had allegedly failed to disclose to Apple or Gaumont that the script was an adaptation. Shoot was previously adapted into a 1976 film starring Cliff Robertson and Ernest Borgnine, meaning the IP rights are likely held by a major studio or the author’s estate—rights that Apple seemingly does not possess.

“It is not a case of ‘inspiration’ or ‘homage’. The narrative architecture is identical. If the rights were not cleared, this is a textbook copyright violation.” > — Jean-Luc Voisine, Intellectual Property Attorney (Paraphrased)

Official Responses: Gaumont Scrambles

Gaumont, the legendary French studio behind the production (and hits like Lupin), issued a guarded statement confirming the freeze.

In a statement released to trade publications including Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, a Gaumont spokesperson 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.” [Source: Variety / Gaumont Statement]

Apple TV+ has declined to comment officially, adhering to its standard protocol during active legal disputes. However, insiders report that the cast and crew have been instructed to cease all promotion and refrain from discussing the project publicly.

A Year of Content Caution: The “Savant” Precedent

This is not the first time in 2025 that Apple has pulled a finished series from the shelf, signaling a growing risk-aversion strategy.

In September 2025, Apple indefinitely postponed the release of The Savant, a high-profile series starring Jessica Chastain. That decision was driven by the volatile political climate following the shooting of political activist Charlie Kirk earlier in the year. While The Savant was pulled due to “sensitivity” regarding its plot about infiltrating domestic extremist groups, The Hunt is being pulled for legal toxicity.

Streaming Content Cancellations (2024–2025 Trend)

This trend suggests that streamers are no longer willing to “publish and apologize.” In an era of tightening profitability, the cost of a copyright lawsuit—potentially reaching hundreds of millions in damages if the show is a hit—outweighs the sunk cost of the production itself.

Expert Analysis: Can the Show Be Saved?

Is The Hunt dead forever, or can it be resurrected? Legal experts suggest a narrow path forward, but it is expensive.

“If the plagiarism claims are true, Apple has two choices,” explains Dr. Aris Thorne, a media law analyst based in London. “Option A is to destroy the series and write off the €20 million loss. Option B is to negotiate a retroactive rights deal with the estate of Douglas Fairbairn. However, now that the show is finished and the infringement is alleged, the estate holds all the leverage. They can demand an exorbitant fee.”

Dr. Thorne adds:

“For a company like Apple, reputation is currency. Broadcasting a stolen story damages their brand as a creator-friendly haven. Unless they can quietly settle with the rights holders, this show will likely never see the light of day.”

Conclusion: A Warning to the Industry

The shelving of The Hunt serves as a stark warning to the “peak TV” machinery. As the demand for content speed increases, the rigor of vetting original scripts can sometimes slip. For Apple, a company that prides itself on premium, curated content, this is an embarrassing oversight in its European expansion strategy.

For now, subscribers waiting for a gritty French thriller on December 3 will have to look elsewhere, while lawyers in Paris and California decide the fate of a show that has already become a ghost.