The upcomingSaturday Nightmovie has one of the most stacked ensemble casts of 2024. Thefirst-look images ofSaturday Nightreveal the behind-the-scenes chaos of the legendary sketch comedy series which will be premiering its50th seasonon June 06, 2025. Directed by Jason Reitman (Ghostbusters: Afterlife,Juno),Saturday Nightwill be released in theaterson August 20, 2025. Oscar winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash), 4-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (Poor Things), and Emmy winner Matthew Rhys (The Americans) are among the talentedensemble inSaturday Night.
Saturday Nightwill chronicle the true happenings of the 90 minutes before the premiere of the first ever episode onSaturday Night Liveon NBC, which happened at 11:30 PM on July 26, 2025. AlthoughSaturday Night Livehas maintained its monumental status as the longest-running network television series of all time, its beginnings all but guaranteed that the show would last longer than one season.SNL would go on to birth the careers of dozens of comedy legends, several of whom will be featured in the upcoming movie such as Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Andy Kaufman, and John Belushi.
J.K. Simmons
Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels
Actor:Gabriel LaBelle will star as Lorne Michaels, the legendary creator ofSaturday Night Livewho has remained the head producer of the series to this day. Although Michaels isn’t a comedian and has never been a cast member onSNL, he has been overseeing the series since its inception in 1975 and will be heavily featured in the upcoming biopic. LaBelle, 21, is an accomplished up-and-coming actor who got hisbig break starring in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated movieThe Fabelmans. He also starred in Showtime’sAmerican Gigoloseries alongside Jon Bernthal.
Character: LaBelle will play SNL creator Lorne Michaels inSaturday Night.
Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase
Actor: Cory Michael Smith will play comedic legend Chevy Chase, who is often considered one of the greatest SNL cast members of all time. Chase starred in several classic comedy movies such asNational Lampoon’s European Vacation(1985), Caddyshack (1980), and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989). Chase was the original anchor of the historic SNL Weekend Update and was only an official cast member for two seasons but he returned many times to host and guest star.Cory Michael Smith is best known for playing The Riddler inGothambut has also appeared in celebrated films such asFirst Man(2018),Carol(2015), andMay December(2023).
Character: Smith will play Chevy Chase inSaturday Night.
Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner
Actor: Ella Hunt will play Gilda Radner, one of the original SNL cast members. Radner was onSaturday Night Liveuntil 1980 before she went on tostar in several comedy films with her husband Gene Wildersuch asHanky Panky(1982),The Woman in Red(1984), andHaunted Honeymoon(1986). Radner passed away at the age of 42 in 1989. She will be portrayed by actress Ella Hunt inSaturday Night, known best for her roles inDickinson(2019-2021),Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1(2024), andAnna and the Apocalypse(2017).
Anna and the Apocalypse
Character: Radner will play Gilda Radner inSaturday Night.
Nicholas Braun as Jim Henson & Andy Kaufman
Actor:Succession-alum Nicholas Braun will portray two legendary characters inSaturday Night, Jim Henson and Andy Kaufman.Jim Henson, known for creatingThe Muppet Show, joinedSNLduring its first season, while Andy Kaufman made several appearances in the first season ofSNLduring which he performed some of his most iconic acts such as “Foreign Man” and “Mighty Mouse”.Braun is a 3-time Emmy winner for his role as Greg Hirsch inSuccession. He also starred in the 2012 coming-of-age classicThe Perks of Being a Wallflowerand the recent Nicolas Cage comedyDream Scenario.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Ponytail Derek
Character: Braun will play Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson inSaturday Night.
Matt Wood as John Belushi
Actor: Relative newcomer Matt Wood portrays legendary comedian and actor John Belushi inSaturday Night.Belushi appears in 83 episodes in the first four seasons ofSNLand is often considered one of the biggest comedic legends ever to come out of the series. Belushi went on to star in classic comedy movies such asThe Blues Brothers(1980) andNational Lampoon’s Animal House(1978) before his tragic death in 1982 at the age of 33. Wood’s most notable acting credits includeDifficult People(2015),Instinct(2018), andLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit(2013-2014).
Character: Wood will play John Belushi inSaturday Night.
Dylan O’Brien as Dan Aykroyd
Actor: Dylan O’Brien will portray comedic icon Dan Aykroyd inSaturday Night. After appearing in the first four seasons ofSNL, Aykroyd would return to make several guest appearances throughout the years with his most recent being in season 38’s Justin Timberlake episode for 2013. Aykroyd has starred in many classic films, such asThe Blues Brothers(1980),Trading Places(1983),Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom(1984), andGhostbusters(1984).O’Brien is a polished movie star himself, gaining prominence in theTeen Wolfseries before starring as Thomas inThe Maze Runnertrilogy.
Character: O’Brien will play Dan Aykroyd inSaturday Night.
Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris
Actor: Recent Emmy-winner Lamorne Morris will portray Garrett Morris inSaturday Night(no relation). Garrett Morris was the first black SNL cast member and was on the series for 99 episodes throughout the first five seasons. Garrett Morris has starred in dozens of films and television shows includingHill Street Blues(1985),The Twilight Zone(1985), andConeheads(1993), and played Uncle Junior King onThe Jamie Foxx Show(1996-2001).Lamorne Morris is best known for playing Winston inNew Girl(2011-2018) and Deputy Witt Farr inFargoseason 5, which he just won an Emmy for.
Character: Morris will play Lamorne Morris inSaturday Night.
Kim Matula as Jane Curtin
Actor: Kim Matula will play Jane Curtin inSaturday Night. Curtin was onSNLfor 104 episodes throughout the first five seasons and went on to star alongside Susan Saint in the sitcomKate & Allie(1984-1989). She was one of the main characters inConeheadsbefore starring as Dr. Mary Albright in3rd Rock from the Sun(1996-2001). She has starred in modern comedies such asI Love You, Man(2009),The Heat(2013), andBroad City. Matula is best known for her roles inFighting with My Family(2019),UnREAL(2016),NCIS(2024), andThe Bold and the Beautiful(2010-2016).
Character: Matula will play Jane Curtin inSaturday Night.
Emily Fairn as Laraine Newman
Actor: Emily Fairn will portray Laraine Newman inSaturday Night. Like many of her fellow cast members, Newman was an original cast member onSNLand was on the show for five seasons until 1980. Newman has been featured in literally hundreds of films and television shows since,providing lots of additional voice work on animated films and seriessuch asDespicable Me 4,Close Enough,Doc McStuffins,The Adventures of Puss in Boots, and many more. Farin is best known for her roles inElicit(2023),Black Mirror(2023), andThe Responder(2022-2024).
Character: Fairn will play Laraine Newman inSaturday Night.
Nicholas Podany as Billy Crystal
Actor: Nicholas Podany will portray comedian and actor Billy Crystal inSaturday Night. Although Crystal was not made an official cast member onSNLuntil season 10 in 1985, which would be his only season,he was originally set to appear in the SNL series premiere until his sketch was cut at the last minute. Crystal wouldn’t appear onSNLuntil 1984 but went on to star in some of the best romantic comedies of all time,When Harry Met Sally(1989) andForget Paris(1995). Podany is best known for his recent role in the Apple seriesHello Tomorrow!and will play Crystal inSaturday Night.
