Apple TV removed The Hunt from its listings shortly before its planned December 3, 2025 premiere amid reported plagiarism and intellectual-property concerns. The producer, Gaumont, later said the series had been presented as original but was based on Douglas Fairbairn’s 1973 novel Shoot, and that it sought the necessary authorizations. The series was postponed, not canceled: it premiered on Apple TV on March 4, 2026.
Why was The Hunt pulled before its premiere?
The French-language thriller was removed from Apple’s listing and most of its official promotion in November 2025, shortly before its scheduled debut. Contemporary reports connected the withdrawal to allegations of plagiarism involving Fairbairn’s novel Shoot. That was the reported concern, not a finding by a court.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Law Abiding Citizen | $6.57 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Get Out [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51OWh1KZXWL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Get Out [DVD] | $4.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Falling Down: Deluxe Edition | $7.06 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Trap (DVD) | $5.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Final Destination Franchise (5pk) | $9.41 | Buy on Amazon |
Gaumont’s later explanation supplied a key detail. In a statement reproduced by 9to5Mac on February 19, 2026, the producer said: “The Hunt‘s release was postponed after it was identified in November 2025 that the project, presented as an original work, was based on an existing work, Douglas Fairbairn’s Shoot.” Gaumont added that it took steps to identify rights holders and obtain the required authorizations. 9to5Mac’s report attributes that account to Gaumont.
The initial public response was more limited. TheWrap reported on November 26, 2025, that Gaumont said, “We take intellectual property matters very seriously,” and had launched a review to address questions related to the production. Apple declined to comment to TheWrap at that time. TheWrap’s report described the allegations; it did not establish a legal judgment.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
What happened, and when?
- September 2025: Apple announced The Hunt and set a December 3 premiere date. 9to5Mac’s November report recounts the announcement.
- November 6, 2025: Apple released a trailer, according to that 9to5Mac report.
- November 20, 2025: Apple removed the listing and most official promotion, according to the same report.
- November 26, 2025: TheWrap reported the plagiarism allegations and Gaumont’s review. Apple declined to comment to TheWrap.
- February 19, 2026: 9to5Mac reported Gaumont’s later account and the new March 4 premiere date.
- March 4, 2026: The Hunt premiered on Apple TV. The first two episodes were available at launch, followed by weekly episodes through April 1, according to 9to5Mac’s premiere report.
Was the show canceled, and did Apple explain the allegations?
No: the available reporting says the release was postponed, and the series eventually premiered on March 4, 2026. The reports cited here do not establish that a lawsuit was filed, that a court ruled on plagiarism, or that a settlement occurred.
Gaumont’s statement is the clearest account of why the release was delayed: it said the project had been presented as original despite being based on an existing work, and that it sought authorizations. Apple did not publicly address the allegations in the cited coverage; 9to5Mac reported that Apple had never publicly commented on them. That distinction matters: Gaumont’s account is not a court finding.
Rank #2
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
What is The Hunt about?
Apple’s synopsis, reproduced in 9to5Mac’s coverage, follows Franck and longtime friends on a hunting trip. After an encounter with another group of hunters and a shooting, Franck’s group retaliates and keeps the incident secret. Franck then suspects that he and his friends are being watched or tracked. The series stars Benoît Magimel and Mélanie Laurent. The story behind its delayed release involves the rights to Fairbairn’s novel, but viewers do not need to read the book to follow the series.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
Rank #4
Rank #3
- Factory sealed DVD
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
