What to Know About The Savant—And Apple TV+’s Decision to Delay the Show

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Apple TV+ has delayed the premiere of its new thriller series, The Savant. The show stars Jessica Chastain as an investigator who goes undercover in online extremist groups to prevent domestic terrorism.

Apple TV+ announced on Wednesday that it’s delaying the release of *The Savant*. In a statement to TIME, the streaming service said it appreciates viewers’ patience and plans to release the series later on.

This delay happened around two weeks after the killing of conservative personality Charlie Kirk. President Trump has pointed to “radical left” groups as being responsible for the murder and a broader increase in political violence – though research from the Cato Institute actually indicates that most domestic terrorism in the U.S. is carried out by right-wing extremists. This also comes at a time when there’s a growing debate about censorship, freedom of speech, and First Amendment rights, especially after Jimmy Kimmel Live! was temporarily taken off the air while Trump and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr went after those with large platforms who have been critical of them.

The new show, *The Savant*, began airing Friday with two episodes. It follows Jodi Chastain’s work tracking white supremacists online and warning the police when she thinks they’re planning violence. The series is inspired by a real-life story originally published in *Cosmopolitan* magazine in 2019. It’s about a former Marine and police officer who worked with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and was nicknamed “The Savant” for her ability to predict when violent acts by misogynistic white supremacists were about to happen.

Known only as “K,” this woman, called “the Savant,” joined the police force because she enjoyed the excitement of catching criminals. As reported in *Cosmopolitan* magazine, she started by monitoring online spaces where far-right extremists gather. With an incredible ability to remember names and faces, K proved to be a valuable asset – she famously helped identify 305 extremists who attended the 2017 Unite the Right rally, where Heather Heyer was tragically killed by a white nationalist.

I’ve always had a pretty strong gut feeling about people, and it’s helped me spot those who might be planning something awful. I explained it to *Cosmopolitan* like this: ever get on an elevator and instantly feel uneasy about the person inside? Most of us ignore it and step in anyway, but I’m the type who always waits for the next one. That instinct, that little warning bell, is what guides me.

On Wednesday, actress Chastain, who plays a character based on K and is also a producer on the show, expressed her disagreement with Apple TV+’s decision to delay the release. She highlighted several recent incidents of political violence in the U.S., including the attempted kidnapping of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the January 6th Capitol attack, attempts on the life of Donald Trump, shootings of Democratic representatives in Minnesota, and the murder of Kirk.

A post shared by Jessica Chastain (@jessicachastain)

Chastain explained that while these events don’t represent all the violence in the US, they highlight a dangerous attitude that exists across different political views and needs to be addressed. She added that she’s always tackled tough topics, and sadly, her show, *The Savant*, feels particularly timely. It focuses on the everyday heroes who prevent violence, and celebrating their bravery is incredibly important right now.

Apple TV+ hasn’t explained why it delayed the release of *The Savant* and hasn’t set a new date for it. Jessica Chastain expressed hope that the show will eventually be available to viewers, stating she understands and respects Apple’s decision.

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2025-09-25 03:06