- Apple TV+ has delayed the premiere of The Savant, a show based on a 2019 Cosmopolitan investigative report about the fight against domestic terrorism.
- Star and executive producer Jessica Chastain responded to the delay, saying that she does not agree with the streamer’s decision.
- The decision comes amidst growing tensions following the death of Charlie Kirk.
Just as Jimmy Kimmel returned to late night on Tuesday night, it was announced that The Savant, a new show starring Jessica Chastain, has been delayed by Apple TV+.
“After careful consideration, we have made the decision to postpone The Savant,” Apple TV+ said in a statement provided to Variety. “We appreciate your understanding and look forward to releasing the series at a future date.”
The network did not give a specific reason for the delay, nor did it give any updates on when fans might expect to see the series, which was originally slated to premiere on Thursday, September 25. However, many are questioning the move, given Disney and ABC’s recent tango with the FCC and the Trump administration. Variety even directly framed the decision as an apparent response to Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the media uproar that has ensued.
Confused? Let me break it down.
What is Apple TV+’s The Savant?
Based on a 2019 investigation by Cosmopolitan, The Savant is a drama series that tells the fictional story of Jodi Goodwin, played by Jessica who also serves as executive producer, an undercover investigator who infiltrates domestic extremist groups online in the hopes of stopping an attack.
Per Variety, an early plot point features Jodi discovering plans for a major attack while posing as a white nationalist. The series also co-stars Nnamdi Asomugha, Pablo Shcreiber, Cole Doman, and Dagmara Dominczyk, to name a few.
The Savant does not feature a storyline similar to Charlie Kirk’s death, nor does it directly reference Donald Trump.
How did Jessica Chastain respond to the delay of The Savant?
Jessica released a statement on Wednesday responding to the news, and she told fans that, while she respects Apple TV+, “We’re not aligned on the decision to pause the release of The Savant.” She went on to note that, in an era of increased political violence—and violence period—in the U.S., the show feels more relevant than ever.
“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 continued. “While I respect Apple’s decision to pause the release for now, I remain hopeful the show will reach audiences soon.”
Jessica might have hope, but based on how she ended the statement—“I'll let you know if and when The Savant is released”—it doesn’t sound like she’s had any guarantees that the show will ever make it to air.
Why did Apple TV+ delay The Savant?
Again, the exact reason has not been confirmed, but, given Jessica’s decision to publicly disagree with the streamer’s decision, it certainly seems that the motivations are—at least in part—political. And speculators are linking Apple TV+’s actions to the media war currently unfolding in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death.
Following the shooting of Charlie Kirk, a popular talking point from right-wing political commentators has been that democrats are to blame for calling right-wing extremists “Nazis” or “fascists.” Perhaps—as some critics have theorized—Apple TV+ is worried that a show about white nationalist domestic terrorists would be interpreted as a personal attack to the right.
Others have pointed to Apple CEO Tim Cook’s reported efforts to appeal to Donald Trump, suggesting that the company’s apparent desire for a good relationship with the administration is another possible explanation for The Savant’s delay.
