Apple TV Pulls French Crime Drama Amid Plagiarism Controversy
Apple TV has postponed the debut of its French crime series The Hunt after allegations surfaced that the show’s plot was copied from a 1970s novel. The production company is now conducting a detailed investigation into the claims.
Apple TV has abruptly pulled the plug on the highly anticipated French crime series The Hunt, just days before its scheduled premiere. The show, also known as Traqués, was set to debut on Wednesday, December 3, but has now been shelved indefinitely. The decision comes after accusations emerged that the series’ storyline was lifted from a 1973 novel, raising serious questions about its originality.
Allegations of Story Theft
The controversy centers on claims that Cédric Anger, the creator and director of The Hunt, borrowed heavily from Douglas Fairbairn’s novel Shoot, published in 1973. According to reports, the similarities between the two works are striking, prompting Apple TV to remove the show from its release calendar. The show’s producer, Gaumont, confirmed the delay, stating, “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.”
Plot Parallels Draw Scrutiny
The Hunt stars Benoît Magimel and Mélanie Laurent and follows Franck and his friends on a hunting trip that takes a dark turn when they become targets of another group. After a violent confrontation, the group tries to keep the incident under wraps, but Franck soon suspects they are being stalked by vengeful hunters. The plot closely mirrors that of Shoot, which tells the story of Rex and his friends, who, during a hunting trip, encounter a rival group. When a shot is fired, Rex’s friend retaliates, resulting in a fatality. The group flees and agrees to keep the event secret, but Rex becomes convinced that the other hunters are out for revenge.
Legacy of the Original Work
Shoot was not only a novel but was also adapted into a film in 1976, directed by Harvey Hart and featuring Cliff Robertson, Ernest Borgnine, and Henry Silva. The strong resemblance between the two stories has fueled the debate over whether The Hunt crossed the line from inspiration to imitation. As the investigation continues, viewers are left waiting to see if the series will ever make it to the screen.
For those looking to expand their Apple TV watchlist, there are still plenty of acclaimed shows to explore while the fate of The Hunt remains uncertain.