Actress Jessica Chastain has publicly stated her disagreement with AppleTV+’s decision to delay the release of her upcoming streaming series, “The Savant.”
The series, which features extremist acts and imagery, stars the Oscar-winning Chastain as an investigator focused on tracking online hate groups.
AppleTV+ announced this week that it would postpone the premiere of the forthcoming drama “after careful consideration.” The streaming service did not provide further explanation, though the decision follows the recent death of conservative political figure Charlie Kirk.
In an Instagram post, Chastain argued that the show remains relevant in light of current events and would serve to honor those “who work every day to stop violence before it happens.”
“The Savant” was originally scheduled to debut in the US on Friday but has been pushed to “a future date,” according to Apple’s announcement on Tuesday.
The drama, also executive produced by Chastain, is based on a 2019 Cosmopolitan article about a clandestine investigator known as the Savant, who monitors white supremacist and other hate groups online with the aim of preventing violent attacks.
Chastain, known for her Oscar-winning portrayal of a televangelist in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” plays the titular Savant, a suburban mother in the series.
The “Zero Dark Thirty” and “The Help” star shared with her 5.4 million Instagram followers on Wednesday that she and Apple are “not aligned on the decision to pause the release of The Savant,” citing several violent incidents in the US to underscore the show’s continued relevance.
Chastain referenced hundreds of school shootings, the kidnapping attempt on Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the January 6th attack on the US Capitol, assassination attempts on President Donald Trump, and the recent death of Charlie Kirk.
“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,” she wrote.
“I’ve never shied away from difficult subjects, and while I wish this show wasn’t so relevant, unfortunately it is,” she added.
She further contended that the series is “about the heroes who work every day to stop violence before it happens, and honoring their courage feels more urgent than ever.”
She concluded by stating that while she respects the streamer’s decision to temporarily postpone the release, she remains “hopeful the show will reach audiences soon.”
Representatives for AppleTV+ had not yet responded to inquiries regarding Chastain’s remarks as of Wednesday.
The series also features Nnamdi Asomugha, Pablo Schreiber, Cole Doman, Michael Patrick Thornton, and Richard Grant, none of whom have publicly commented on the postponement.
Directors Matthew Heineman and Rachel Morrison reposted Chastain’s Instagram post on their respective accounts.
“This,” Morrison wrote in her repost.
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