Jessica Chastain stood by her criticism of Apple TV after the streamer postponed her series The Savant following the 2025 assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk. The show was originally scheduled to premiere in September 2025 but was pulled from the lineup just days before its release.
Jessica Chastain stands by criticizing Apple over ‘The Savant’ delay
In a Porter cover-story interview published Monday, Chastain explained why she felt compelled to criticize the postponement. “I felt responsible to a lot of people, to all of the actors in the series… to the real person I played, I felt accountability to her because of the sacrifices that she’s made and the difficult things she’s done to keep us all safe,” she said.
Chastain added, “I really had to go on record that I thought [the postponement] was a mistake… I learned that it’s OK to be honest.”
Chastain also said women should not have to choose between being grateful and speaking honestly. “You can be honest in a kind and respectful way and feel like you’re still speaking your truth, you’re still authentic to who you are without being fearful of – I don’t know – I guess of never working again,” she said. “Again, women are [supposed] to feel grateful. Well, we can be grateful and we can also be honest about things. We can be both things at once.”
Meanwhile, Apple TV confirmed last month that The Savant will premiere in spring 2027. The series was originally scheduled for Sept. 23, 2025, but was pulled days before its release following Kirk’s death.
Chastain plays Jodi Goodwin, a veteran, wife and mother who infiltrates online forums where white supremacists gather and sometimes plan domestic terror attacks. She also serves as an executive producer.
Apple previously said, “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.”
The new premiere will come about a year and a half after the original launch date. It is also set to arrive after November’s midterm elections.
