Jason Reitman’s movie about the debut night of Saturday Night Live has an official title and a fall release date.
Sony Pictures announced Tuesday that Saturday Night is set to hit theaters Oct. 11, which marks the 49th anniversary of the NBC sketch series’ premiere that aired on that same night in 1975. Previously using the working title of SNL 1975, the film is getting a prime awards season release.
Reitman directs the project that focuses on the behind-the-scenes moments leading up to that initial broadcast. The cast includes Gabriel LaBelle as series creator Lorne Michaels, Cooper Hoffman as former NBC exec Dick Ebersol and Rachel Sennott as Michaels’ ex-wife and former SNL writer Rosie Shuster.
Reitman and Gil Kenan penned the screenplay based on their interviews with living cast, writers and crew about the debut of the show that is heading into its 50th season. Reitman, Kenan, Jason Blumenfeld and Peter Rice are producers on the movie, while Erica Mills and JoAnn Perritano serve as executive producers.
Portraying SNL’s inaugural players are Dylan O’Brien (as Dan Aykroyd), Lamorne Morris (Garrett Morris), Cory Michael Smith (Chevy Chase), Matt Wood (John Belushi), Ella Hunt (Gilda Radner), Emily Fairn (Laraine Newman) and Kim Matula (Jane Curtin).
Also appearing in the movie are Willem Dafoe (David Tebet), Nicholas Braun (Jim Henson), Kaia Gerber (Jacqueline Carlin), J.K. Simmons (Milton Berle), Andrew Barth Feldman (Neil Levy), Naomi McPherson (Janis Ian) and Finn Wolfhard as an NBC page.
As The Hollywood Reporter exclusively reported, Jon Batiste is composing the score and will portray keyboardist and singer Billy Preston, who was the show’s first musical guest.
