See theSaturday NightCast Side by Side with the Real-LifeSaturday Night LiveActors

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Live from New York, it’s the very firstSaturday Night Live.

From directorJason Reitman, Sony Pictures has announced plans for a brand-new film titledSaturday Night, which will recount the behind-the-scenes happenings of the very first episode of the famous sketch comedy show.

The film will feature various notable stars playing even more notableSNLalums such as Garrett Morris,Dan Aykroyd,Chevy Chaseand John Belushi (as well asSNLcreatorLorne Michaels).

Recently,the first trailer was releasedshowing all of the onscreen transformations as well as teasing the drama that’s in store.

01of 16

Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty; NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

LaBelle is no stranger to playing famous creators as he previously starred as Sammy Fabelman in Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical filmThe Fabelmans. The role, which he beat out 2,000 other contenders for, earned him critical acclaim including the Critics' Choice Movie Award for best young performer.

02of 16

Dylan O’Brien as Dan Aykroyd

Katie Jones/Variety via Getty; NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

Dylan O’Brien is slated to play actor Dan Aykroyd, who starred onSNLfrom 1975 to 1979 and also served as a writer. During his time on the show, Aykroyd appeared in a number of notable sketches, including the Coneheads and the Blues Brothers, and received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

03of 16Cory Michael Smith as Chevy ChaseJamie McCarthy/Getty; NBC/NBCU Photo BankCory Michael Smith will be playingSNLcomedian Chevy Chase, who appeared on the show from 1975 to 1976 and served as a writer. During his time on the series, he was best known for his recurring “Weekend Update” segment, which quickly became a staple of the show. He also earned two Primetime Emmy Awards out of four nominations for his role.Smith is best known for playing Edward Nygma/The Riddler on Fox’sGotham,and broke out in Broadway’sBreakfast at Tiffany’sopposite Emilia Clarke in 2013. Some of his other recent roles includeCarol,WonderstruckandMay December.

03of 16

Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase

Jamie McCarthy/Getty; NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

Cory Michael Smith will be playingSNLcomedian Chevy Chase, who appeared on the show from 1975 to 1976 and served as a writer. During his time on the series, he was best known for his recurring “Weekend Update” segment, which quickly became a staple of the show. He also earned two Primetime Emmy Awards out of four nominations for his role.

Smith is best known for playing Edward Nygma/The Riddler on Fox’sGotham,and broke out in Broadway’sBreakfast at Tiffany’sopposite Emilia Clarke in 2013. Some of his other recent roles includeCarol,WonderstruckandMay December.

04of 16Lamorne Morris as Garrett MorrisMICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty; NBCU Photo BankLamorne Morris will be taking on the role ofGarrett Morris, who was one of the original cast members ofSNLfrom 1975 to 1980. During his time on the series, Morris became well-known for his characters such as Dominican Mets player Chico Esquela and a “Weekend Update” segment titled “News for the Hard of Hearing.”Morris got his breakthrough as an actor for his starring role onNew Girl, which ran from 2011 to 2018 and also starred Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield. Additionally, he starred on Hulu’s comedy seriesWoke, on which he played a cartoonist.

04of 16

Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris

MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty; NBCU Photo Bank

Lamorne Morris will be taking on the role ofGarrett Morris, who was one of the original cast members ofSNLfrom 1975 to 1980. During his time on the series, Morris became well-known for his characters such as Dominican Mets player Chico Esquela and a “Weekend Update” segment titled “News for the Hard of Hearing.”

Morris got his breakthrough as an actor for his starring role onNew Girl, which ran from 2011 to 2018 and also starred Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield. Additionally, he starred on Hulu’s comedy seriesWoke, on which he played a cartoonist.

05of 16

Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner

Ella Hunt is playing lateSNLcast member Gilda Radner, whodied from ovarian cancer in 1989. Starring on the series from 1975 to 1980, Radner was known for her over-the-top characters such as Roseanne Roseannadanna (modeled after reporter Rose Ann Scamardella) and Baba Wawa (which parodied Barbara Walters). In 1978, Radner won an Emmy Award for her performance on the show.

06of 16Nicholas Braun as Jim HensonJC Olivera/Getty; Bettmann Archive/GettyNicholas Braun is playing the late puppeteer Jim Henson. Before creatingThe Muppet Showin 1976, he and his team appeared on the first season ofSaturday Night Live.Braun first rose to fame with his various roles in Disney films, such asSky HighandPrincess Protection Programwith Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. Recently, he gained critical acclaim for his role as Greg onSuccession, which earned him three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series.

06of 16

Nicholas Braun as Jim Henson

JC Olivera/Getty; Bettmann Archive/Getty

Nicholas Braun is playing the late puppeteer Jim Henson. Before creatingThe Muppet Showin 1976, he and his team appeared on the first season ofSaturday Night Live.

Braun first rose to fame with his various roles in Disney films, such asSky HighandPrincess Protection Programwith Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. Recently, he gained critical acclaim for his role as Greg onSuccession, which earned him three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series.

07of 16

Tommy Dewey as Michael O’Donoghue

Andrew H Walker/Variety/Penske Media via Getty; NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Tommy Dewey will play the late Michael O’Donoghue, the first head writer ofSaturday Night Live. After writing forNational Lampoonmagazine, he worked on the sketch series where he became known for his dark humor.

08of 16

Nicholas Podany as Billy Crystal

Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty; Bettmann Archive/Getty

Nicholas Podany will play actor Billy Crystal, a former cast member and regular host of the sketch series. Before he was cast in season 10 ofSNL, Crystal was slated to appear in the very first episode, however, his scene was cut.

09of 16

Rachel Sennott as Rosie Shuster

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Rachel Sennott is playing Rosie Shuster, who was married to Michaels from 1971 to 1980 and served as a writer ofSNL. Shuster created memorable characters and sketches such as Killer Bees and the Todd and Lisa sketch.

10of 16

Kim Matula as Jane Curtin

Michael Tullberg/Getty; NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Kim Matula is playingJane Curtin, who appeared onSNLfrom 1975 to 1980. During her time on the show, she often anchored the “Weekend Update” segment, paired with Dan Aykroyd from 1977 to 1978 and Bill Murray from 1978 to 1980.

11of 16

Cooper Hoffman as Dick Ebersol

Roy Rochlin/Getty; Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Cooper Hoffman will be playing Dick Ebersol, who served as NBC’s vice president of late-night programming at the time ofSNL’s creation. Ebersol worked closely with Michaels to develop the idea for the comedy sketch series and later served as an executive producer from 1981 to 1985.

12of 16Emily Fairn as Laraine NewmanDave Benett/Getty; NBC/NBCU Photo BankEmily Fairn is slated to portrayLaraine Newman, who was part of the originalSNLcast from 1975 to 1980. During her time on the series, she became known for creating characters like Connie Conehead, proto-Valley girl Sherry and Christie Christina. (Her daughter Hannah Einbinder has followed her into comedy as well!)Fairn is an English actress who got her big break for her role onThe Responder, a BBC One drama that stars Martin Freeman. Additionally, she has appeared on shows such asRain DogsandBlack Mirroras well as the West End production ofBrokeback Mountainalongside Lucas Hedges and Mike Faist.

12of 16

Emily Fairn as Laraine Newman

Dave Benett/Getty; NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

Emily Fairn is slated to portrayLaraine Newman, who was part of the originalSNLcast from 1975 to 1980. During her time on the series, she became known for creating characters like Connie Conehead, proto-Valley girl Sherry and Christie Christina. (Her daughter Hannah Einbinder has followed her into comedy as well!)

Fairn is an English actress who got her big break for her role onThe Responder, a BBC One drama that stars Martin Freeman. Additionally, she has appeared on shows such asRain DogsandBlack Mirroras well as the West End production ofBrokeback Mountainalongside Lucas Hedges and Mike Faist.

13of 16Matt Wood as John BelushiCourtesy of Sony; Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via GettyMatt Wood will be playing lateSNLcast member John Belushi,who died in March 1982 from an accidental drug overdose. During his time on the show from 1975 to 1980, Belushideveloped a number of notableSNLcharactersincluding Samurai Futaba, Henry Kissinger, Ludwig van Beethoven and Captain James T. Kirk. Additionally, he helped create the Blues Brothers alongside Aykroyd.Wood is best known for his roles on the stage, including starring in the original Broadway cast ofSpongeBob SquarePantsand playing Augustus Gloop in the national tour ofCharlie and the Chocolate Factory.

13of 16

Matt Wood as John Belushi

Courtesy of Sony; Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Matt Wood will be playing lateSNLcast member John Belushi,who died in March 1982 from an accidental drug overdose. During his time on the show from 1975 to 1980, Belushideveloped a number of notableSNLcharactersincluding Samurai Futaba, Henry Kissinger, Ludwig van Beethoven and Captain James T. Kirk. Additionally, he helped create the Blues Brothers alongside Aykroyd.

Wood is best known for his roles on the stage, including starring in the original Broadway cast ofSpongeBob SquarePantsand playing Augustus Gloop in the national tour ofCharlie and the Chocolate Factory.

14of 16

Kaia Gerber as Jacqueline Carlin

Andy Kropa/Invision/AP; Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Gerber is playing Jacqueline Carlin, Chevy Chase’s ex-wife whom he was married to from 1976 to 1980. DuringSNL’s first season, she also made a handful of appearances on the series.

15of 16Andrew Barth Feldman as Neil LevyBruce Glikas/Getty; NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyAndrew Barth Feldman will play Neil Levy, who was one of the original writers forSNL.After making a splash on Broadway for his titular role inDear Evan Hansen, Feldman made his television acting debut on Disney+‘sHigh School Musical: The Musical: The Series. His breakout role came in 2023 as he was cast as the lead opposite Jennifer Lawrence in the comedyNo Hard Feelings.

15of 16

Andrew Barth Feldman as Neil Levy

Bruce Glikas/Getty; NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Andrew Barth Feldman will play Neil Levy, who was one of the original writers forSNL.

After making a splash on Broadway for his titular role inDear Evan Hansen, Feldman made his television acting debut on Disney+‘sHigh School Musical: The Musical: The Series. His breakout role came in 2023 as he was cast as the lead opposite Jennifer Lawrence in the comedyNo Hard Feelings.

16of 16Finn Wolfhard as an NBC pageStephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via GettyUnlike the rest of the cast, Finn Wolfhard isn’t playing a recognizable figure.Per Deadline, his role is simply an NBC page.Wolfhard is best known for playing Mike Wheeler on Netflix’sStranger Things, which iscurrently filming its final season. Since the show premiered in 2016, he has taken on a number of other roles, including playing Richie Tozier in the 2017 film adaptation of Stephen King’sIt, which marked his feature film debut, as well as playing Trevor inGhostbusters: Afterlifeand the recentGhostbusters: Frozen Empire.

16of 16

Finn Wolfhard as an NBC page

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Unlike the rest of the cast, Finn Wolfhard isn’t playing a recognizable figure.Per Deadline, his role is simply an NBC page.

Wolfhard is best known for playing Mike Wheeler on Netflix’sStranger Things, which iscurrently filming its final season. Since the show premiered in 2016, he has taken on a number of other roles, including playing Richie Tozier in the 2017 film adaptation of Stephen King’sIt, which marked his feature film debut, as well as playing Trevor inGhostbusters: Afterlifeand the recentGhostbusters: Frozen Empire.

source: people.com