Jessica Chastain Has The Perfect Response To Her Apple TV+ Series Being Postponed

The entertainment world continues to feel the effects of the recent assassination of right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk, though in the most unexpected of ways. The recent hoopla surrounding the attempted censoring of Jimmy Kimmel on late-night TV made plenty of waves, but that whole saga hardly had time to settle down before yet another one has risen up to take its place. This time, the latest twist involves the upcoming Apple TV+ series "The Savant," which stars Jessica Chastain and was previously slated to hit streaming in just a few days.

In another unprecedented decision in a week already chock-full of them, the streamer has abruptly changed course and announced that the series will be postponed for the time being — presumably due to its subject matter, as reported by Variety. The show follows a woman (Chastain) who infiltrates Discord servers in order to catch the most violent extremists online and prevent them from carrying out assassinations and other acts of terror. According to a statement released by Apple: 

"After careful consideration, we have made the decision to postpone 'The Savant.' We appreciate your understanding and look forward to releasing the series at a future date."

Now, however, it appears that not all involved were fully on board with this controversial decision. Chastain has taken to social media to weigh in on the topic, making clear her own reservations surrounding the postponement but promising to keep fans updated on when they'll be able to watch this politically-charged thriller. In an Instagram post, the star released a lengthy and nuanced rebuttal, which you can watch here.

So, when will viewers be able to watch "The Savant" for themselves? That remains in doubt, unfortunately, as neither the streamer nor Jessica Chastain have offered any specifics regarding a new release date for the series. As the actor lays out in her post, the choice to postpone the show in the wake of the Charlie Kirk shooting is a bit of an eyebrow-raiser. Chastain knows full well the challenges and discomfort of appearing in movies or series that may feel a bit too relevant these days, having starred in projects like "Zero Dark Thirty," "Miss Sloane" (which deals heavily with gun lobbyists and the debate over gun control), and plenty more. But, as she astutely points out in her comments, there never is a perfect time for a series like "The Savant" to release — particularly in a country that goes through as much gun violence as the United States does. Her statement reads in full:

"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."

We'll update this article accordingly as new developments come in.