The reason Apple TV+ decided to delay ‘The Savant’ and why Jessica Chastain is against the decision
Chastain, the star of the postponed series ‘The Savant’, says she disagrees with the decision to push back its premiere.
Actor Jessica Chastain says she is “not aligned” with Apple TV+’s decision to postpone the release of the new series The Savant, in which she stars.
Series seemingly pulled over Kirk killing
The Savant had been due to premiere on the streaming service on September 26. However, Apple said in a September 23 statement that it had opted to hold back the series “after careful consideration”.
While the tech giant did not offer a reason for the postponement, reports suggest that The Savant’s plot may have been deemed potentially triggering in the wake of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
What is The Savant about?
The Savant stars Chastain as Jodi Goodwin, a woman who poses as a white nationalist to infiltrate extreme online message boards, in an attempt to identify violent domestic terrorists before they act.
The eight-part limited series is inspired by the real-life events described in the 2019 Cosmopolitan article “Is It Possible to Stop a Mass Shooting Before It Happens?”
Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva notes that The Savant “includes a sniper in action and the bombing of a government building among other acts of violence”.
Kirk was killed by a sniper’s bullet on September 10, during an appearance on the campus of the Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. A 22-year-old suspect, Tyler Robinson, has been arrested and charged with Kirk’s murder.
This week, Chastain took to social media to express her disagreement with Apple’s postponement of The Savant.
“I wish this show wasn’t so relevant”
“I want to say how much I value my partnership with Apple,” Chastain said in an Instagram statement. “They’ve been incredible collaborators and I deeply respect their team. 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.
“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.”
The Savant - watch the trailer:
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