Jessica Chastain Stands By Criticizing Apple for Delaying ‘The Savant’ After Charlie Kirk’s Assassination: ‘I Had to Go on Record That I Thought It Was a Mistake’

Jessica Chastain is doubling down on her decision to push back on Apple TV for delaying the release of her TV series “The Savant” last year amid the assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk.

“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,” Chastain said in Net-a-Porter’s Porter cover-story interview published Monday. “I really had to go on record that I thought [the postponement] was a mistake… I learned that it’s OK to be honest.”

The “Other Mommy” star continued: “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. 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.”

Last month, Apple TV finally confirmed a release for “The Savant,” revealing it is set to debut in Spring 2027.

In “The Savant,” Chastain (who also serves as an executive producer) plays Jodi Goodwin, a veteran, wife and mother whose job is to infiltrate online forums in which white supremacists gather and sometimes plan domestic terror attacks. Creator Melissa James Gibson adapted “The Savant” from a 2019 Cosmopolitan story by Andrea Stanley titled “Is It Possible to Stop a Mass Shooting Before It Happens?”

The show was originally set to premiere in Sept. 23, 2025 and was pulled from Apple TV’s schedule just days before release following the 2025 assassination of far-right activist Kirk. At that time, Apple released a statement saying: “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.”

Notably, the new release date for “The Savant” — which will take place a year and a half after the planned launch — is set after November’s midterm elections.