SNL 1975 is continuing to add to its cast.
Most recently, Deadline reported that the film, which tells the story of the night that Saturday Night Live premiered on NBC, has tapped Willem Dafoe to star as David Tebet, who was VP Talent Relations at NBC when SNL launched.
Based on interviews with surviving cast members and behind-the-scenes players, and written by Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan, SNL 1975 has cast a host of young talent to portray the seven iconic comedians — plus the producers, writers and crew — who went on to change television forever.
The official synopsis reads:
“On October 11th, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. This is the true story of what happened that night behind the scenes in the moments leading up to the first broadcast of SNL. The chaos and magic of a revolution that almost wasn’t, as we countdown the minutes in real time to the infamous words, Live From New York, it’s Saturday Night.”
NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Here’s a look at the cast of SNL 1975:
Willem Dafoe as David TebetJeff Kravitz/FilmMagic / Frank Diernhammer/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images
The Poor Things star will play David Tebet, a former talent executive at NBC.
J.K. Simmons as Milton Berle
The 69-year-old Whiplash star and Academy Award winner stars as Milton Berle, the actor and comedian known for his starring roles in shows like Uncle Miltie and Mr. Television.
J.K. Simmons to play comedian Milton Berle in 'SNL 1975' – Getty Images/Getty Images
Billy Bryk in an Undisclosed Role
Bryk, who previously worked with Reitman on 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife, has joined the cast in a role with limited details.
Billy Bryk joins the cast of 'SNL 1975' – Getty Images
Joe Chrest as Herb Sargent
Chrest — who most recently appeared in Zelda Williams’ directorial debut Lisa Frankenstein — will play Herb Sargent, credited with the creation of “Weekend Update.”
Joe Chrest to play Weekend Update creator Herb Sargent in 'SNL 1975' – Getty Images/Getty Images
Taylor Gray as Al Franken
Gray — who lent his voice to Star Wars: Rebels for 74 episodes as Ezra Bridge, according to his IMDB page — will play the comedian-turned-senator who got his start as a writer and performer on Saturday Night Live.
Taylor Gray to star as Al Franken in 'SNL 1975' – Getty Images/Getty Images
Mcabe Gregg as Tom Davis
The actor, best known for his role in projects like Shameless and Teenage Badass, will portray Tom Davis — one-half of the comedy duo Franken & Davis, who performed on SNL, as well as wrote for the series.
Mcabe Gray will play Tom Davis in 'SNL 1975' – Getty Images/Getty Images
Andrew Barth Feldman as Neil LevyBruce Glikas/Getty Images/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
The No Hard Feelings actor is set to play Neil Levy, a writer and talent coordinator for the original Saturday Night Live, according to his IMDB page.
Kaia Gerber as Jacqueline CarlinSteve Granitz/FilmMagic/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
The 22-year-old daughter of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber will portray the ex-wife of Chevy Chase, played by Cory Michael Smith. While Carlin and Chase did not marry until 1976, they began dating in 1975 — the year the movie is set.
Finn Wolfhard as an NBC Page@FinnWolfhard on Instagram
Wolfhard, 21, previously worked with the film’s director on Ghostbusters: Afterlife in 2021 and sparked casting rumors on Monday when he shared an Instagram post about the film from Reitman to his Instagram Story. His character’s name has not been revealed.
Nicholas Braun as Jim HensonFrazer Harrison/Getty Images/Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Archive Photos/Getty Images
The Succession star will take on the role of the beloved puppeteer. The Muppets creator and his team appeared on the first season of Saturday Night Live.
Nicholas Podany as Billy CrystalJoy Malone/Getty Images/Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for SiriusxM
The Hello Tomorrow actor will portray comedian Billy Crystal, who was scheduled to be in the first episode of SNL but his sketch got cut.
Tommy Dewey as Michael O’DonoghueJenny Anderson/WireImage/Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images
The Casual star will take on the role of Michael O’Donoghue, the first head writer of Saturday Night Live and the first performer to deliver a line on the series.
In the show’s inaugural sketch, O’Donoghue played an English-language teacher who instructs John Belushi to repeat phrases such as, “I would like to feed your fingertips to the wolverines,” and, “We are out of badgers. Would you accept a wolverine in its place?” He then drops dead of a heart attack.
Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne MichaelsGetty Images
The Fabelmans star will follow up his breakout role with another iconic part as the SNL head honcho, who created the iconic comedy series and has served as its executive producer since its 1975 premiere (with a brief, five-year break from 1980-85).
Cory Michael Smith as Chevy ChaseGetty Images
The May December standout will portray the volatile breakout star, who left SNL early in its second season to pursue his film career. During his brief time on SNL, Chase anchored “Weekend Update” and his deadpan delivery was instrumental in making the segment a lasting iconic bit.
Dylan O’Brien as Dan AykroydGetty Images/NBC
The Teen Wolf star will play Aykroyd, who spearheaded the infamous “Blues Brothers” and “Coneheads” sketches on SNL, both of which went on to become feature films. Since his departure, Aykroyd has returned to SNL more than a dozen times, in hosting and guest appearances.
Matt Wood as John BelushiGetty Images
Wood, a comedian and theater actor, is set to take on the role of John Belushi, SNL’s embattled star who debuted brash characters as well as the iconic “Blues Brothers” sketch during his time on the show. Belushi struggled with drug use throughout his career and was dismissed from SNL — and later brought back — several times due to his lack of accountability. He died in 1982 from a drug overdose after being injected with a speedball at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Hollywood.
Lamorne Morris as Garrett MorrisGetty Images/NBC
The New Girl star will play Garrett Morris (no relation), SNL’s first Black cast member. A classically trained singer, Morris often showed off his skills to comedic effect on SNL, usually with subtitles incorrectly translating the foreign lyrics. Other memorable roles include baseball player Chico Escuela and a “Hard of Hearing” interpreter for “Weekend Update” — who merely shouted the headlines at the camera.
Ella Hunt as Gilda RadnerGetty Images/NBC
The English actress and singer, best known for her role as Sue Gilbert on Dickinson, will play Radner, one of SNL’s first iconic comediennes. Best known for bold, loud-mouthed characters like Roseanne Roseannadanna and Emily Litella. Radner won an Emmy for her SNL performance in 1978. She died in 1989, after a private battle with ovarian cancer.
Kim Matula as Jane CurtinGetty Images/NBC
The Bold and the Beautiful and Unreal star is set to play SNL’s first resident straight woman. Curtin’s SNL highlights include starring in the “Coneheads” sketches and co-anchoring “Weekend Update,” often serving as a foil to Aykroyd, Radner and Bill Murray. She went on to win two Emmy Awards for her starring role in the ’80s sitcom Kate & Allie.
Emily Fairn as Laraine NewmanGetty Images/NBC
Fairn, who recently appeared in the West End production of Brokeback Mountain, will play Newman, the final member of SNL’s first female trio. While she tended not to repeat characters — and thus had fewer iconic roles than some of her castmates — some of Newman’s most famous SNL moments include her roles as Connie Conehead, Valley girl Sherry, and ditzy TV host Christie Christina.
Cooper Hoffman as Dick Ebersol Getty Images
The Licorice Pizza star (and son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) will play the young NBC executive who helped Michaels develop SNL into the late-night phenomenon it eventually became. He also executive produced the show during Michaels’ brief departure in the early ’80s. Ebersol would go on to become president of NBC Sports in 1989, shepherding the network as it became a sports broadcasting powerhouse, producing multiple Olympics, Super Bowls and more.
Rachel Sennott as Rosie ShusterGetty Images
The Bottoms star will play Shuster, who was an instrumental behind-the-scenes figure in the early years of SNL. The daughter of famous comedian Frank Shuster, she and Lorne Michaels met in middle school and were married from 1971-80. She helped him assemble the Not Ready for Primetime Players and was an SNL writer during the ’70s and ’80s. She teamed up with Radner to help her develop some of her most iconic characters, wrote the “Killer Bees” sketch and later helped Dana Carvey develop his “Church Lady” character.
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