Jessica Chastain has said via a statement that she is not in agreement with Apple over the decision to delay her show The Savant.
The series was set to debut on Apple TV+ on Friday (September 26) but was announced as postponed in a statement from the streamer to IndieWire. No official reason has been given for the postponement, but it is believed that the content of the show could be seen as controversial following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 10.
The Savant is based on a Cosmopolitan article, titled Is It Possible to Stop a Mass Shooting Before It Happens?, and stars Chastain as a woman who infiltrates extremist groups in an effort to thwart terrorism plans.
In a statement made on her Instagram account, the Oscar winner wrote: “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.”
She continued: “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.”
The statement concluded: “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 honouring 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.”
Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck and killed at Utah Valley University campus on September 10, where he was hosting his first event as part of his ‘America Comeback Tour’. Kirk was 31 years old.
Since the killing, several TV shows have been suspended or criticised in relation to the murder. South Park drew backlash from right wing social media users, who pointed to an episode where Eric Cartman parodies Kirk as an example of raising hostilities toward conservatives, and the episode in question was removed from streaming service Paramount+. Kirk’s producer would later urge them to reinstate it, saying the influencer loved being featured on the show.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! was also temporarily suspended following comments the host made about the killing. ABC reinstated the show this week after backlash over perceived censorship, although several of the network’s affiliates refused to air the episode.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.