by Jessica Chastain has criticised Apple TV+’s decision to pause the release of the new thriller series, The Savant.
The upcoming series, which stars Chastain as an undercover investigator who infiltrates online hate groups, was set to be released on the streaming platform on September 26th.
However, days before it was set to arrive on Apple TV+, the distributors confirmed they will delay the series after “careful consideration” and shared they “look forward to releasing the series at a future date”.
While no official reason was given for the pause, it is likely linked to the assassination of Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk earlier this month and the heated political climate in the United States.
Chastain has now taken to Instagram to share her frustration with the decision by the streaming service to delay the release, writing, “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.”
The American actor then went on to highlight a series of examples of political violence in America since the programme first began in development.
Chastain shared: “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.”
The Hollywood star elaborated, “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.”
She also said the message of The Savant is to highlight “the heroes who work every day to stop violence before it happens” and “honoring their courage feels more urgent than ever”.
Chastain concluded, “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.”
Apple TV+ has yet to announce a new release date for The Savant.
