The original cast of Saturday Night Live may have not been ready for prime time when the sketch comedy series premiered in 1975, but director Jason Reitman felt it was high time they got their own film chronicling their efforts. Saturday Night stars a vast ensemble of actors playing Lorne Michaels, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, and more comedians on the brink of mega fame. The film opens in wide release on Oct. 11, the 49th anniversary of the premiere of SNL, which is now in its 50th season.
While SNL is a cultural institution now, the up-and-comers who got it off the ground weren’t concerned “one way or another” with its long-term impact, according to Chevy Chase, who was only a full-time cast member for that first season. They were focused on doing what they do best and making people laugh. This approach is reminiscent of how sketches go viral these days, only now with the power of the internet.
Saturday Night takes creative license with the drama leading up to the first-ever episode of NBC’s Saturday Night in 1975, but the cinematic action is rooted in real events. The filmmakers conducted interviews with everyone involved to gather anecdotal plot points and stories about the show coming together. The amount of drama and excitement surrounding the creation of SNL is portrayed in the film.
The cast of Saturday Night vs. the real-life original stars of SNL they’re portraying includes Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels, Rachel Sennott as Rosie Shuster, Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner, Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase, Dylan O’Brien as Dan Aykroyd, Kim Matula as Jane Curtin, Emily Fairn as Laraine Newman, Matt Wood as John Belushi, Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris, Nicholas Braun as Jim Henson and Andy Kaufman, Cooper Hoffman as Dick Ebersol, Matthew Rhys as George Carlin, Kaia Gerber as Jacqueline Carlin, Tommy Dewey as Michael O’Donoghue, Taylor Gray as Al Franken, Mcabe Gregg as Tom Davis, Nicholas Podany as Billy Crystal, Jon Batiste as Billy Preston, Naomi McPherson as Janis Ian, Willem Dafoe as David Tebet, and J.K. Simmons as Milton Berle.
The film showcases the behind-the-scenes drama, the talent, and the iconic moments that shaped the early days of Saturday Night Live. It gives viewers a glimpse into the world of comedy legends and the challenges they faced in creating a groundbreaking show. Saturday Night is a must-watch for fans of SNL and anyone interested in the history of comedy on television.