“Live from New York, it’s the first Saturday night!” Jason Reitman’s highly anticipated film “Saturday Night” has just dropped its first trailer, offering a thrilling glimpse into the tense 90 minutes that preceded the iconic debut of “Saturday Night Live” in 1975. Reitman, known for his sharp storytelling, teamed up with Gil Kenan to craft a screenplay that takes audiences back to the birth of a television legend.
The trailer puts a spotlight on the show’s mastermind, Lorne Michaels, portrayed by breakout star Gabriel LaBelle (“The Fabelmans”). With everything on the line, Michaels is seen fighting a losing battle to keep the inaugural broadcast from falling apart. Obstacles come in the form of unpredictable cast members, relentless studio executives, and the overwhelming pressure to create something groundbreaking. At one point, an exasperated Michaels passionately declares, “NBC is lucky enough to have something as relevant as this show!”
The very first “SNL” episode, which aired on October 11, 1975, was a television milestone. Hosted by the irreverent comedian George Carlin, the episode also featured musical performances by Billy Preston and Janis Ian. The original cast included comedy legends Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Michael O’Donoghue, and Gilda Radner. The episode also featured George Coe, who made his only appearance as a cast member that night.
“SNL” was developed by Dick Ebersol, who handpicked Michaels as the showrunner. Nearly 50 years later, Michaels is still at the helm, with the show set to begin its milestone 50th season this fall.
The film’s star-studded ensemble includes 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, and Kaia Gerber as Jacqueline Carlin, among others.
Mark your calendars: “Saturday Night” hits theaters on October 11, 2024, courtesy of Sony Pictures. Watch the trailer below and get ready to experience the drama and excitement of TV history in the making!
Watch the trailer here:
