Apple TV is postponing a scheduled series that focused on domestic terrorism due to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, leaving the audience to speculate what was in the series that would have been so damaging to release.
“The Savant,” a scripted series starring Jessica Chastain, was initially slated to premiere on Friday.
“After careful consideration, we have made the decision to postpone The Savant,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement, per The Hollywood Reporter. “We appreciate your understanding and look forward to releasing the series at a future date.”
The show has been in the works for two years. It draws inspiration from the 2019 Cosmopolitan article, “Is It Possible to Stop a Mass Shooting Before It Happens?” The piece is about an investigator referred to as “The Savant,” who stops violent men from carrying out attacks before they occur.
The show deals with politically motivated attacks, though it appears likely that it was more focused on political violence from the Right side of the political spectrum. The article the show is based on makes numerous mentions of the “alt-right” and “white supremacists.” The man accused of murdering Kirk, Tyler Robinson, was reportedly living with a transgender-identifying male partner, with Utah Republican Governor Spencer Cox saying that the suspect was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology.”
Chastain, who also serves as executive producer, says she disagrees with the decision to postpone the show.
“I want to say how much I value my partnership with Apple. They’ve been incredible collaborators and I deeply respect their team,” Chastain wrote. “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,” she wrote, going on to list various events, including January 6 and the assassination attempts on President Donald Trump.
“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,” she concluded.
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