Live from New York, it’s the first Saturday night! The trailer for Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night has been released, offering a nerve-wracking glimpse into the chaotic 90 minutes leading up to the inaugural Saturday Night Live broadcast. Reitman, along with Gil Kenan, penned the screenplay for this highly anticipated film.
Plot Beats
The trailer reveals SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels, portrayed by The Fabelmans breakout Gabriel LaBelle, battling to launch the show smoothly. The road to success is anything but easy, with unpredictable cast members and insistent studio executives adding to the chaos. At one point, Michaels passionately declares, “NBC is lucky enough to have something as relevant as this show!”
Historical Context
The first broadcast of SNL took place on October 11, 1975, hosted by comedian George Carlin and featuring musical guests Billy Preston and Janis Ian. The iconic cast included Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Michael O’Donoghue, and Gilda Radner. George Coe, who did not continue as a cast member, also appeared in the first episode.
Production and Cast
Dick Ebersol developed SNL and hired Lorne Michaels as showrunner. Michaels still produces the show, which is set to air its 50th season this fall.
The film’s ensemble cast is packed with talent:
- Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels
- Dylan O’Brien as Dan Aykroyd
- Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase
- Rachel Sennott as Rosie Shuster
- Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris
- Nicholas Braun as Jim Henson
- Finn Wolfhard as an NBC page
- Jon Batiste as Billy Preston
- Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner
- Cooper Hoffman as Dick Ebersol
- Andrew Barth Feldman as Neil Levy
- Naomi McPherson as Janis Ian
- Willem Dafoe as David Tebet
- J.K. Simmons as Milton Berle
- Kaia Gerber as Jacqueline Carlin
Release Date
Saturday Night will hit theaters on October 11, 2024, courtesy of Sony Pictures. Watch the trailer below.
