Apple on Tuesday made the decision to pull “The Savant” from the Apple TV+ premiere schedule, just days before the new thriller starring Jessica Chastain was scheduled to debut. The show was originally set to launch on Friday, September 26. Chastain said on Wednesday that she does not agree with Apple’s decision to delay the shows premiere.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Chastain said that she is “not aligned” with the company on the decision to pause the release of the show.
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.
In the show, Chastain stars as a woman who is known as “the Savant” who infiltrates online hate-groups in order to prevent large-scale public attacks. The eight-part limited series also stars Nnamdi Asomugha, Cole Doman, Jordana Spiro, Trinity Lee Shirley, Toussaint Francois Battiste, and guest stars Pablo Schreiber.
While Apple has not yet explained its move, it is possible that “The Savant” premiere has been put on pause due to recent real world events, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
While Apple has not yet announced a new premiere date, Chastain says that she’s “hopeful” the series will reach audiences soon.