Jessica Chastain and Apple are not on the same page when it comes to the streamer’s decision to postpone release of her upcoming series The Savant.
“After careful consideration, we have made the decision to postpone The Savant,” an Apple TV+ spokesperson said Tuesday in a statement to Deadline. “We appreciate your understanding and look forward to releasing the series at a future date.”
The streamer would not elaborate on the reasons for the last-minute change but The Savant’s subject matter is believed to be behind it, with the storyline about preventing extremist attacks and some of the imagery considered possibly triggering following the Sept. 10 assassination of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk. The series includes a sniper in action and the bombing of a government building among other acts of violence.
In a lengthy post on Instagram Stories Wednesday, Chastain revealed she does not agree with the decision to postpone.
“I want to say how much I value my partnership with Apple. They’ve been incredible collaborators and I deeply respect their team,” Chastain wrote. “That said, I wanted to reach out and let you know that we’re not aligned on the decision to pause the release of The Savant.
“In the last five years since we’ve been making the show, we’ve seen an unfortunate amount of violence in the United States: the kidnapping attempt on Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer; the January 6th attack on the Capitol; the assassination attempts on President Trump; the political assassinations of Democratic representatives in Minnesota; the attack on Speaker Pelosi’s husband; the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk; the recent shooting at an ABC affiliate station in California; and over 300 school shootings across this country,” she continued. “These incidents, though far from encompassing the full range of violence witnessed in the United States, illustrate a broader mindset that crosses the political spectrum and must be confronted. I’ve never shied away from difficult subjects, and while I wish this show wasn’t so relevant, unfortunately it is. The Savant is about the heroes who work every day to stop violence before it happens, and honoring their courage feels more urgent than ever. While I respect Apple’s decision to pause the release for now, I remain hopeful the show will reach audiences soon. Until then, I’m wishing safety and strength for everyone, and I’ll let you know if and when The Savant is released.”
From writer/executive producer/showrunner Melissa James Gibson, Fifth Season and Anonymous Content, The Savant follows an undercover investigator known as “The Savant” (Chastain), who infiltrates online hate groups to stop domestic extremists before they act.
The cast also includes Cole Doman, Jordana Spiro, Trinity Lee Shirley, Toussaint Francois Battiste, and guest star Pablo Schreiber. James Badge Dale appears in a major recurring role.
Chastain and Kelly Carmichael executive produce through the former’s Freckle Films banner alongside Alan Poul, Melissa James Gibson, and Matthew Heineman, who also directs. David Levine and Garrett Kemble serve as executive producers for Anonymous Content. Stanley serves as a consultant.
