Here's Who's Playing Your Favorite Comedians in the ‘Saturday Night Live’ Biopic

Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night, in theaters everywhere Oct. 11, tracks the tumultuous premiere of Saturday Night Live‘s debut episode in 1975. The behind-the-scenes dramedy takes equal inspiration from Birdman and Uncut Gems in its anxiety-riddled depiction of the legendary sketch show’s first steps.

In addition to well-known stars like Willem Dafoe and Stranger Things‘ Finn Wittrock playing behind-the-scenes crew members, Saturday Night features a handful of less experienced but no less talented actors playing some of SNL‘s most iconic cast members. Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, George Carlin, and even Jim Henson all figure into the film.

Here’s who’s playing your favorite comedians in Saturday Night.

Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels

LaBelle, who broke out in Steven Spielberg’s autobiographical drama The Fablemans, stars as the sketch show’s famously enigmatic creator. He’s also held roles in Netflix’s Brand New Cherry Flavor and the coming-of-age comedy Snack Shack. At 21, LaBelle is a full decade younger than Lorne Michaels was when SNL premiered.

Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase

Smith will fill Chase’s admittedly large shoes, becoming one of very few actors to portray the comedian on-screen. To date, the only genuine portrayal of Chase (outside of sketches and parodies) was by his Community co-star Joel McHale in A Stupid and Futile Gesture (2019). Smith is best known for playing the Riddler on Gotham, and for his role as Julianne Moore’s son in May/December (2023).

Matt Wood as John Belushi

Wood has held guest star roles in shows like Difficult People and Spongebob Squarepants, but Saturday Night marks his most prominent role to date. He embodies the famously high-energy character comic who tragically died at the age of 33 from a drug overdose. Saturday Night’s director, Jason Reitman, is the son of Animal House director Ivan Reitman, who is largely credited with springing Belushi into his post-SNL movie career.

Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner

Hunt plays the legendary, late comedian best known for her characters like Roseanne Roseannadanna and Baba Wawa. Radner spent five seasons with SNL, departing in 1980 and going on to a successful film career, sometimes opposite husband Gene Wilder. Radner died in 1989 after a protracted battle with ovarian cancer.

Hunt is best known for her parts in Apple TV+’s Dickinson. She’ll next be seen in the second (and presumably third and fourth) installments of Horizon: An American Saga, Kevin Costner’s self-financed passion project.

Dylan O’Brien as Dan Aykroyd

One of the more experienced members of Saturday Night’s cast, O’Brien previously starred in Deepwater Horizon (opposite Mark Wahlberg) and Bumblebee (opposite John Cena). He also headlined the Maze Runner trilogy. In 2016, O’Brien endured a serious injury on the set of the third installment, The Death Cure, after being hit by a car which left him with facial fractures, a concussion, and brain trauma.

Nicholas Braun as Jim Henson and Andy Kauffman

Succession’s Cousin Greg takes on two roles in Saturday Night, playing Muppet creator Jim Henson and alt-comic Andy Kauffman. In addition to HBO’s signature series, Braun has had memorable roles in Dream Scenario (2023) and the Twitter-epic @Zola (2021).

Matthew Rhys as George Carlin

Rhys, of The Americans and Perry Mason, will play the equally thoughtful and foul-mouthed comedian who served as the host of SNL’s debut episode. In addition to his two signature series, Rhys has appeared in Cocaine Bear (2023) and John Krasinski’s IF (2024), as well as the series Girls and Archer.

Paul Rust as Paul Shaffer

Rust, best known for his roles in Inglourious Basterds and Netflix’s Love, plays the future Late Show band leader and comedian, who got his start as a keyboardist in SNL’s house band. Rust is also known for his work on The Great North, as well as the podcasts Comedy Bang! Bang! and With Gourley and Rust. Like Shaffer, he’s also a musician, and is a member of the “piano/pop/weirdo” band Don’t Stop or We’ll Die.

Saturday Night is currently playing in select cinemas. It hits theaters nationwide on Oct. 11. You can check out the trailer below.