Jessica Chastain says she’s “not aligned” with Apple TV’s decision to pull the premiere of her new series The Savant at the eleventh hour, presumably in the wake of Charlie Kirk‘s death.
In a lengthy Instagram post, the Oscar-winner said that while she “respects Apple’s decision to pause the release for now”, she remains “hopeful the show will reach audiences soon”.
“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,” Chastain wrote on Instagram on Thursday.
“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,” she added.
The streamer shared the first look for the series back in July, preparing audiences for the story of Chastain as a member of a team tasked with infiltrating online hate groups and preventing their plans for large-scale attacks.
The series was reportedly inspired by a 2019 Cosmopolitan article which detailed the work of an investigator known as the Savant who “tracks angry men online”.
In the trailer, Chastain’s character is heard saying, “snipers, bombings, ambushes, we’re on the verge of serious violence … This guy isn’t just planning violence, he’s out to make a statement … innocent Americans are going to die”.
Apple shared a statement just days before The Savant’s slated November 26 release.
“After careful consideration, we have made the decision to postpone The Savant,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “We appreciate your understanding and look forward to releasing the series at a future date.”
While no official reason was given, it’s thought The Savant would arrive too soon after Kirk’s death earlier this month.
Elsewhere in her statement, Chastain stressed her “deep respect” to Apple as “incredible collaborators”, but said she is “not aligned” with the move to delay The Savant.
“I wanted to reach out and let you know that we’re not aligned on the decision to pause the release of The Savant,” Chastain wrote.
“I’ve never shied away from difficult subjects, and while I wish this show wasn’t so relevant, unfortunately it is … I remain hopeful the show will reach audiences soon,” she added.
While review embargoes for The Savant have not yet been lifted, one article in the Irish Independent described the show as a “thriller depicting the ugliness of white supremacist extremism in the United States”.
It comes after more than 90,000 people attended Kirk’s public memorial in Arizona, including President Trump and key members of the MAGA movement.
Tyler Robinson, 22, the man charged with Charlie Kirk’s murder, is awaiting trial. If found guilty, he potentially faces the death penalty.
Lead images: Getty Images and Jessica Chastain/Instagram
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