Apple has postponed the release of ‘The Savant’, a thriller starring Jessica Chastain, just weeks before its scheduled debut on Apple TV+. The series, which was set to premiere on 26 September, has been pulled from the schedule “after careful consideration”, according to a statement from the tech giant.
The show follows Chastain’s character as she infiltrates online hate groups to prevent violent attacks in the United States. It is loosely based on a 2019 Cosmopolitan article about an investigator known as ‘the Savant’ who tracks angry men online. The trailer includes warnings of “a coordinated mass attack” and references 893 extremist attacks in America between 1994 and 2020.
Apple did not elaborate on its decision, but it comes shortly after the killing of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Prosecutors have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, with text messages suggesting the act was motivated by a desire to stop Kirk’s “hatred”.
Chastain responded to the postponement on Instagram, expressing that she is “not aligned” with Apple’s decision. She noted “an unfortunate amount of violence” that has occurred during the making of the show, including the Kirk killing, the kidnapping attempt on Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, and the January 6 riot. “I’ve never shied away from difficult subjects, and while I wish this show wasn’t so relevant, unfortunately it is,” she wrote.
The Oscar-winning actress added that the series honours “the heroes who work every day to stop violence before it happens” and called its timeliness “upsetting”. She referenced the recent murder of Minnesota politician Melissa Hortman, seemingly a politically motivated assassination. “While I respect Apple’s decision to pause the release for now, I remain hopeful the show will reach audiences soon,” Chastain concluded.
