Yesterday came the news that Apple TV+ had indefinitely delayed its upcoming Jessica Chastain-led true story drama series “The Savant” which was originally due out this Friday.
Chastain leads the show as a top-secret undercover investigator, nicknamed ‘The Savant,’ who infiltrates online hate groups and takes them down from the inside – stopping domestic extremists before they can act.
The delay was seen as a reaction to the assassination of conservative pundit Charlie Kirk, with some of the subject matter close enough to be potentially “triggering”.
Chastain herself has now weighed in with an official statement on the delay of the series which she also produces. It seems she respectfully disagrees with Apple’s decision:
“I want to say how much I value my partnership with Apple. 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 show also stars Nnamdi Asomugha, Cole Doman, Jordana Spiro, Trinity Lee Shirley, Toussaint Francois Battiste and Pablo Schreiber.
Source: Instagram
