Apple TV has indefinitely postponed the global debut of its upcoming French thriller, “The Hunt” (also known as “Traqués”), which was originally slated for a December release. The decision comes amidst serious allegations that the series’ creator and director, Cédric Anger, plagiarized the story from Douglas Fairbairn’s 1973 novel “Shoot.” This novel was previously adapted into a 1976 film of the same title. The accusations were first brought to light by French media expert Clement Garin and subsequently reported by Apple Insider. French production company Gaumont confirmed the shelving of the series in a statement, indicating that it is conducting a thorough review into the intellectual property concerns. Concurrently, Apple TV has removed all promotional materials and information related to “The Hunt” from its platform as the investigation proceeds.

“The Hunt” was scheduled to premiere on Apple TV with its first two episodes on Wednesday, December 3rd, followed by weekly installments every Wednesday through December 31st. However, the show was pulled from the lineup last week. The French-language thriller, directed by Anger, was executive produced by Isabelle Degeorges, Clémentine Vaudaux, Alexis Barqueiro, and Sidonie Dumas for Gaumont, known for other successful productions like “Lupin” and “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld.” The series boasts a strong cast, including Benoît Magimel as Franck and Mélanie Laurent as Krystel, along with Damien Bonnard, Manuel Guillot, Cédric Appietto, Angelyna Danabe Mignot, Paul Beaurepaire, Yann Goven, Sarah Pachoud, and Patrick de Vallette.

The plot of “The Hunt” centers on Franck and his close friends, who regularly enjoy weekend hunting trips. One particular Sunday, their outing takes a dark turn when they encounter another group of hunters who inexplicably begin targeting them. After one of Franck’s companions is shot, his friends retaliate, successfully bringing down an attacker. Barely escaping the confrontation, the four friends agree to keep the incident a secret. Franck attempts to resume his normal life with his wife, Krystel, but soon develops a profound sense that he and his friends are being watched, or worse, relentlessly pursued by the aggrieved hunters seeking revenge.

These plot elements bear a striking resemblance to Douglas Fairbairn’s novel “Shoot.” In Fairbairn’s story, Rex, a zealous hunter, embarks on a hunting expedition in the Canadian wilderness with his four similarly inclined friends. Their trip is cut short when they encounter a rival group, and one of the rivals inexplicably fires at Rex’s party, grazing the head of one of his friends. A friend of Rex returns fire, fatally wounding the shooter. Rex and his companions then flee the scene and return to civilization. Rex chooses not to involve authorities, anticipating a similar reaction from the rival hunters. He investigates the deceased man’s identity and contacts his widow, who reveals claims that her husband was killed by a "stray bullet." Unconvinced, Rex becomes convinced that the dead man's companions will seek vengeance. He meticulously plans to return to the scene of the crime the following Saturday, expecting the rival hunters to be waiting. He gathers a substantial force and an extensive arsenal. On the fateful day, Rex and his assembled group, armed and ready, venture into the now snow-covered forest, which initially appears deserted. However, appearances prove deceptive, and as Rex predicted, a violent shootout ensues.

The clear thematic and narrative parallels between “The Hunt” and “Shoot” form the basis of the intellectual property dispute. Douglas Fairbairn, the author of the original novel, passed away in 1997. The 1976 film adaptation of “Shoot” was directed by Harvey Hart, with a screenplay by Richard Berg, and featured prominent actors such as Cliff Robertson, Ernest Borgnine, and Henry Silva. The ongoing investigation by Gaumont will determine the future of “The Hunt” as it navigates these serious plagiarism allegations.