The Savant

Last updated

The Savant
The Savant series poster.jpg
Release poster
Genre Crime thriller
Created by Melissa James Gibson
Inspired by"Is It Possible to Stop a Mass Shooting Before It Happens?"
by Andrea Stanley
ShowrunnerMelissa James Gibson
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
ProducerBrian Madden
Cinematography Janusz Kamiński [1]
Production companies
Original release
Network Apple TV+

The Savant is an unreleased American crime thriller miniseries created by Melissa James Gibson that is based on an article by Andrea Stanley. It stars Jessica Chastain and Nnamdi Asomugha.

Contents

Premise

The series is reportedly inspired by a true-life story titled "Is It Possible to Stop a Mass Shooting Before It Happens?" which featured in Cosmopolitan in August 2019 of a woman who has come to be known as "the Savant" who infiltrates online hate groups in order to prevent large-scale public attacks. [2] [3] It covers the division of the Anti-Defamation League that infiltrates online hate groups. [4]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Production

Development

The series is created by Melissa James Gibson, who also acts as showrunner and executive producer. Matthew Heineman is a director and produced by Fifth Season and Anonymous Content. Kelly Carmichael of Freckle Films also executive produces alongside Jessica Chastain. Jessica Giles, editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine and Brian Madden, senior VP of development for Hearst Magazines, will produce. Andrea Stanley, writer of the original Cosmopolitan magazine feature, will consult. [5]

Casting

It was reported in Variety in March 2023, that Jessica Chastain had been cast in an eight-part series called The Savant for Apple TV. [6] Chastain said that her performance in the role was designed to protect the anonymity of the real-life character because "I wouldn't want to look and behave exactly like her, because I want to keep her hidden." [7] In February 2024, Nnamdi Asomugha joined the cast in a main role, [8] while James Badge Dale was added in a recurring capacity. [9] Additional casting was announced in March. [10]

Filming

Filming was scheduled for September 2023 in New York. [11] It instead began in April 2024. [12]

Release

Apple TV+ was originally scheduled to premiere the first two episodes on September 26, 2025, with the rest releasing on a weekly basis through November 7, 2025. [13] Three days before the original premiere date, the release date was postponed without a new date or an explanation. Though an explanation was not given, it was believed to be linked to the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which occurred two weeks earlier. [14] [15] [16] [17] The delay was criticized by Variety , which called it a "huge mistake" and stated it was "precisely the type of show America needs right now." [17] Chastain distanced herself from the decision, saying she was "not aligned on the decision to pause the release." [16] [18]

References

  1. ↑ "Janusz Kaminski".
  2. ↑ Chapman, Wilson (March 27, 2023). "Jessica Chastain Limited Series 'The Savant' Ordered at Apple TV+". IndieWire . Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  3. ↑ Stanley, Andrea (August 7, 2019). "Is It Possible to Stop a Mass Shooting Before It Happens?". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  4. ↑ Elia-Shalev, Asaf (September 26, 2025). "Apple TV+ shelves 'The Savant,' a Jessica Chastain thriller inspired by ADL's secretive anti-extremism unit". Jewish Telegraphic Agency . Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  5. ↑ White, Peter (March 27, 2023). "Jessica Chastain To Star In Limited Series 'The Savant' For Apple". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ Otterson, Joe (March 27, 2023). "Jessica Chastain to Star in Apple Limited Series 'The Savant'". Variety. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  7. ↑ Hazel, Andy (December 23, 2023). "Actress Jessica Chastain". The Saturday Paper . Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (February 2, 2024). "The Savant: Nnamdi Asomugha Joins Jessica Chastain In Apple Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  9. ↑ Petski, Denise (February 27, 2024). "James Badge Dale Joins Apple's 'The Savant' Limited Series Starring Jessica Chastain". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  10. ↑ Petski, Denise (April 3, 2024). "The Savant Apple Series Rounds Out Cast With 8, Including Jordana Spiro, Michael Mosley, Dagmara Dominczyk". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  11. ↑ Kundu, Tamal (July 6, 2023). "Jessica Chastain's The Savant Starts Shooting in New York in September". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Apple TV films driving scene for 'Savant' on Route 9 in Sleepy Hollow". News12 Long Island. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  13. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (July 23, 2025). "Jessica Chastain-Led Apple Limited Series The Savant Reveals Premiere Date & First Photos". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  14. ↑ Robledo, Anthony (September 23, 2025). "Apple TV+ postpones domestic extremism show The Savant following Charlie Kirk killing". USA Today . Gannett . Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  15. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 23, 2025). "Apple Postpones Jessica Chastain Thriller The Savant Amid Current Events". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  16. 1 2 Mendez, Malia (September 24, 2025). "Jessica Chastain pushes back against Apple's decision to hold 'The Savant' after Charlie Kirk's death". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  17. 1 2 Tinubu, Aramide (September 23, 2025). "Apple Is Making a Huge Mistake Postponing The Savant in Wake of Charlie Kirk Killing". Variety . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  18. ↑ Weprin, Alex (September 24, 2025). "Jessica Chastain Says She Does Not Agree With Apple's Decision to Postpone The Savant". The Hollywood Reporter . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved September 27, 2025.

Further reading

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