Jessica Chastain‘s Apple TV+ series about a woman attempting to prevent large-scale public attacks has been postponed just three days before its premiere following Charlie Kirk‘s death.
The streaming service confirmed on Tuesday, September 23, that The Savant won’t be released as expected. Originally, the series was set to debut on Friday, September 26, with the first two episodes before transitioning to weekly releases until early November.
“After careful consideration, we have made the decision to postpone The Savant,” a spokesperson for Apple TV+ told Deadline. “We appreciate your understanding and look forward to releasing the series at a future date.”
Chastain, 48, has yet to comment on the postponement. Nnamdi Asomugha, Cole Doman, Jordana Spiro, Trinity Lee Shirley and Toussaint Francois Battiste also star in the eight-episode series alongside guest star Pablo Schreiber.
Whether you’re watching via phone, tablet, laptop, TV, projector or, most likely, some combination of those, fall has brought its usual influx of original programming. And burning questions will be answered, such as: Will one of the Mormon Housewives take home Dancing With the Stars’ Mirrorball trophy? Is there room in your life for another […]
The Savant is based on Cosmopolitan’s 2019 article “Is It Possible to Stop a Mass Shooting Before It Happens?” and follows an undercover investigator who “infiltrates online hate groups in an effort to stop domestic extremists before they act.” Adapted by Melissa James Gibson, the series is based on the real woman profiled in the Cosmopolitan story, whose identity was carefully concealed.
Jessica Chastain in The Savant Elizabeth Fisher /©Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection
Apple TV+’s decision to table The Savant for now comes after conservative political activist Kirk was killed at age 31 during a shooting at Utah Valley University earlier this month. He was speaking at the event on September 10 before “a single shot” was fired on campus from around 200 yards away. Kirk was subsequently taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A suspect was ultimately arrested for Kirk’s murder and is currently facing charges. In the aftermath, the commentator’s death sparked an array of reactions. Jimmy Kimmel made headlines earlier this month after Us Weekly confirmed that ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! due to backlash over comments he made about the shooter and President Donald Trump’s reaction to Kirk’s death.
A spokesperson for the network told Us that the show was “preempted indefinitely.” In response, ABC received backlash from viewers speaking out online. Also, 400 celebrities signed an open letter in support of bringing the comedian, 57, back to late night, which led to ABC ultimately reversing their decision.
“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” the Walt Disney Company said in a statement. “It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
Hollywood stars are speaking out to mourn the death of controversial conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. News broke on Wednesday, September 10, that Kirk was shot and killed during a speaking engagement in Utah. He was 31. “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” President Donald Trump wrote via his Truth Social platform. “No […]
Kimmel returned to his show on Tuesday, September 23, where he delivered an emotional monologue.
“I’ve been hearing a lot about what I need to say and do tonight. And the truth is, I don’t think what I have to say is going to make much of a difference. If you like me, you like me. If you don’t, you don’t. I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind,” he said. “I do wanna make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human, and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.”
Kimmel said he didn’t think “there’s anything funny about” Kirk’s assassination.
“I posted a message on Instagram on the day he was killed, sending love to his family and asking for compassion, and I meant it and I still do. Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual,” he continued. “That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make. But I understand that to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both. And for those who think I did point a finger. I get why you’re upset. If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I’d have felt the same way.”
