‘SNL’ Biopic Gets Official Title and Release Date
Get ready to go back in time and dive into the making of the beloved late-night comedy show this fall. Jason Reitman’s biopic “Saturday Night,” previously known by its working title “SNL 1975,” will debut on Oct. 11. The date may sound familiar—it is the same day NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” was first broadcast exactly 49 years ago on Oct. 11, 1975.
The official synopsis explains that the film will depict “the true story of what happened that night behind the scenes in the moments leading up to the first broadcast of SNL.”
Reitman teamed up with frequent collaborator Gil Kenan to write the screenplay based on their interviews with cast and crew members who were part of the legendary show’s first season.
The film’s exciting ensemble cast is packed with rising stars, newcomers, and veterans. This includes Gabriel LaBelle (as Lorne Michaels), Dylan O’Brien (Dan Aykroyd), Cory Michael Smith (Chevy Chase), Rachel Sennott (Rosie Shuster), Lamorne Morris (Garrett Morris), Nicholas Braun (Jim Henson), Finn Wolfhard (NBC page), Jon Batiste (Billy Preston), Ella Hunt (Gilda Radner), Cooper Hoffman (Dick Ebersol), Andrew Barth Feldman (Neil Levy), Naomi McPherson (Janis Ian), Willem Dafoe (David Tebet), J.K. Simmons (Milton Berle) and Kaia Gerber (Jacqueline Carlin), among others as SNL’s main players.
The actor who will portray George Carlin, the host of SNL’s first broadcast, has yet to be announced.
Deadline notes that audiences shouldn’t be too surprised if “Saturday Night” joins the Toronto International Film Festival lineup, considering Sony’s regular presence at the festival in the past.
Jason Blumenfeld and Peter Rice produced the film alongside Reitman and Kenan, with Erica Mills and JoAnn Perritano serving as executive producers.
Reitman and Kenan most recently collaborated on “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” which was released back in March.
“Saturday Night” will be released in theaters on Oct. 11 via Columbia Pictures.
Photo by Joe Lavigne on Unsplash