As the Writers Guild of America prepares to end its months-long writers strike after finally reaching a tentative agreement with the AMPTP, Deadline brings word that NBC’s Saturday Night Live may possibly make its return to broadcast in October. However, since the SAG-AFTRA strike is still ongoing, it’s unclear if all of its Season 49 regulars — including Bowen Yang, Kenan Thompson, Colin Jost, Chloe Fineman, and Heidi Gardner — are willing to return.
As for the search for potential hosts, producers may be looking at enlisting athletes or musicians. Before going on a hiatus last April due the writers strike, Season 49 mostly featured actors as hosts including Pedro Pascal, Jenna Ortega, Austin Butler, Aubrey Plaza, and Ana de Armas.
Saturday Night Live Will Be Getting a Movie Adaptation
Last May, it was confirmed that Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman is developing a Saturday Night Live movie centering around the behind-the-scenes story of its first episode on October 11, 1975. The original cast were Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, George Coe, Jane Curtin, Garrett, Morries, Larraine Newman, and Michael O’Donoghue.
“The true story of what happened that night behind the scenes in the moments leading up to the first SNL broadcast, retelling chaos and magic of a revolution that almost wasn’t, counting down the minutes in real time to the infamous words, ‘Live From New York, it’s Saturday Night,'” reads the film’s synopsis.
The long-running sketch comedy is currently on its 49th season with creator Lorne Michaels still executive producing the series. Saturday Night Live served as a launching pad for a number of comedians and actors including Bill Murray, Norm Macdonald, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, and more.
