Apple TV pulls The Hunt over plagiarism accusation | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Apple TV pulls The Hunt over plagiarism accusationComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentStreamingCloseStreamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All StreamingApple TV pulls The Hunt over plagiarism accusationThe French series is accused of plagiarizing a 1974 novel called Shoot.The French series is accused of plagiarizing a 1974 novel called Shoot.by Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothNov 27, 2025, 12:51 AM UTCLinkShareIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.Image: The VergeEmma RothCloseEmma RothPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.Apple TV removed The Hunt from its streaming slate last week after concerns were raised about plagiarism. The move, previously reported by Apple Insider, comes after French media journalist Clément Garin claimed that the story closely follows Shoot, a 1974 novel written by Douglas Fairbairn.The Hunt was originally supposed to premiere on Apple TV on December 3rd. However, Gaumont, the production company behind The Hunt, confirmed its removal from Apple’s streaming schedule. “The broadcast of our series ‘The Hunt’ has been temporarily postponed,” Gaumont tells Variety. “We are currently conducting a thorough review to address any questions related to our production. We take intellectual property matters very seriously.”The French thriller follows Franck and a group of friends who encounter a hostile group of hunters while on a hunting trip. Here’s the logline, according to Variety:Franck (Magimel) and his longtime friends enjoy spending their weekends hunting together, but one Sunday, they come across another group of hunters who start targeting them without explanation. When one of their party is shot, Franck’s friends strike back, sending an attacker to the ground. Barely managing to escape, the four friends keep the event a secret. Franck tries to go back to his life as usual alongside his wife, Krystel (Laurent), but in the next few days, he starts to feel like he and his friends are being watched, or worse, tracked by hunters who are now hell-bent on revenge.Meanwhile, Fairbairn’s Shoot, which was adapted into a film in 1976, surrounds an “uber-macho hunter” named Rex. During a hunting trip to Canada, Rex and his friends are attacked by a group of rival hunters. When one of them gets shot, another one of Rex’s friends fires back, killing one of the attackers, according to the book’s description:From there Rex and company scurry off and head back to civilization. Rex decides not to contact the authorities about the killing, betting the rival hunters will react the same way…. He looks up the murdered man’s identity and tracks down his widow. She reveals that her deceased hubbie’s buddies claim he was killed by a “stray bullet”. This doesn’t entirely satisfy Rex, however, who becomes convinced that the dead man’s companions are going to come after him and his friends.Apple TV also postponed the debut of The Savant in September, which follows an investigator (Jessica Chastain) who tries to infiltrate online hate groups to stop domestic terrorism attacks. 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Apple TV has temporarily removed the new thriller series, *The Hunt*, from its streaming platform following accusations of plagiarism. The decision, reported initially by Apple Insider and subsequently confirmed by Gaumont, the production company, stems from a claim made by French media journalist Clément Garin. Garin alleges a significant overlap between *The Hunt* and the 1974 novel *Shoot*, written by Douglas Fairbairn.

*Shoot* was originally adapted into a film in 1976 and centers on a “uber-macho hunter” named Rex. The narrative follows Rex and his companions during a Canadian hunting trip, where they encounter a group of rival hunters. After a shooting incident and the subsequent death of one of their party, Rex and his friends, fearing reprisal, choose not to involve the authorities and instead attempt to uncover the truth behind the events, tracking down the deceased man’s widow to understand the circumstances of his demise.

*The Hunt*, directed by René Nalpas, similarly depicts Franck, a hunter, and his friends who stumble upon a hostile group of hunters during a weekend trip. Following a shooting that results in a casualty, Franck and his friends, seeking to protect themselves, take action, leading to a violent confrontation. The series quickly pivots to portray a sinister atmosphere, with Franck and his friends subject to a growing sense of surveillance and the unsettling realization they are being relentlessly tracked by unseen pursuers.

The core similarities between the two narratives appear to be the setup of a hunting trip gone wrong, an initial incident involving a shooting, and the subsequent escalation into a relentless pursuit of revenge. Both stories employ the trope of a group of hunters facing off against a determined antagonist or group of antagonists, centered around themes of mistrust, violence, and survival. The narrative tension in *The Hunt* centers on Franck’s and his friends’ desperate attempts to evade their pursuers and uncover the motives behind the attacks, mirroring the investigative and defensive actions undertaken by Rex in *Shoot*.

The removal of *The Hunt* from Apple TV’s streaming slate is a precautionary measure pending a thorough review. Gaumont’s statement indicates they are engaging in a “thorough review to address any questions related to our production.” The situation highlights the complex and often sensitive nature of intellectual property rights and the potential for disputes arising from perceived similarities between works. It’s a reminder of the importance of adhering to established copyright regulations and conducting careful due diligence during the development of creative projects.