See the 'Saturday Night' Cast Side by Side with the Real Actors

Live from New York, it's the very first Saturday Night Live.

From director Jason Reitman, Sony Pictures has announced plans for a brand-new film titled Saturday Night, which will recount the behind-the-scenes happenings of the very first episode of the famous sketch comedy show.

With an original screenplay written by Reitman and Gil Kenan, based on an extensive series of interviews conducted by Reitman and Kenan with all the living cast members, writers and crew, the story will go inside one of the most famous pilots in TV history, per Deadline.

The film will feature various notable stars playing even more notable SNL alums such as Garrett Morris, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase and John Belushi (as well as SNL creator Lorne Michaels).

Recently, the first trailer was released showing all of the onscreen transformations as well as teasing the drama that's in store.

Ahead, see the Saturday Night cast side by side with the real-life actors they'll be playing.

01 of 16

Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels

Gabriel LaBelle will portray SNL creator Lorne Michaels, who started his career as a writer and broadcaster, then made a big name for himself when he created the TV show NBC's Saturday Night, which later became known as Saturday Night Live. He was 30 years old at the time.

LaBelle is no stranger to playing famous creators as he previously starred as Sammy Fabelman in Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans. The role, which he beat out 2,000 other contenders for, earned him critical acclaim including the Critics' Choice Movie Award for best young performer.

02 of 16

Dylan O'Brien as Dan Aykroyd

Dylan O'Brien is slated to play actor Dan Aykroyd, who starred on SNL from 1975 to 1979 and also served as a writer. During his time on the show, Aykroyd appeared in a number of notable sketches, including the Coneheads and the Blues Brothers, and received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

O'Brien got his big break playing Stiles Stilinski on the MTV series Teen Wolf, before gaining further prominence in the film industry for his starring role in the Maze Runner trilogy.

03 of 16

Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase

Cory Michael Smith will be playing SNL comedian Chevy Chase, who appeared on the show from 1975 to 1976 and served as a writer. During his time on the series, he was best known for his recurring "Weekend Update" segment, which quickly became a staple of the show. He also earned two Primetime Emmy Awards out of four nominations for his role.

Smith is best known for playing Edward Nygma/The Riddler on Fox's Gotham, and broke out in Broadway's Breakfast at Tiffany's opposite Emilia Clarke in 2013. Some of his other recent roles include Carol, Wonderstruck and May December.

04 of 16

Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris

Lamorne Morris will be taking on the role of Garrett Morris, who was one of the original cast members of SNL from 1975 to 1980. During his time on the series, Morris became well-known for his characters such as Dominican Mets player Chico Esquela and a “Weekend Update” segment titled “News for the Hard of Hearing.”

Morris got his breakthrough as an actor for his starring role on New Girl, which ran from 2011 to 2018 and also starred Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield. Additionally, he starred on Hulu's comedy series Woke, on which he played a cartoonist.

05 of 16

Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner

Ella Hunt is playing late SNL cast member Gilda Radner, who died from ovarian cancer in 1989. Starring on the series from 1975 to 1980, Radner was known for her over-the-top characters such as Roseanne Roseannadanna (modeled after reporter Rose Ann Scamardella) and Baba Wawa (which parodied Barbara Walters). In 1978, Radner won an Emmy Award for her performance on the show.

Hunt is an English actress who first gained prominence for her role in Anna and the Apocalypse, which earned her a Scottish BAFTA nomination. Additionally, she is well known for playing Sue Gilbert in the Apple TV+ series Dickinson alongside Hailee Steinfeld.

06 of 16

Nicholas Braun as Jim Henson

Nicholas Braun playing Jim Henson in SNL 1975 — JC Olivera/Getty; Bettmann Archive/Getty

Nicholas Braun is playing the late puppeteer Jim Henson. Before creating The Muppet Show in 1976, he and his team appeared on the first season of Saturday Night Live.

Braun first rose to fame with his various roles in Disney films, such as Sky High and Princess Protection Program with Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. Recently, he gained critical acclaim for his role as Greg on Succession, which earned him three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series.

07 of 16

Tommy Dewey as Michael O'Donoghue

Tommy Dewey playing Michael O'Donoghue in SNL 1975 — Andrew H Walker/Variety/Penske Media via Getty; NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Tommy Dewey will play the late Michael O'Donoghue, the first head writer of Saturday Night Live. After writing for National Lampoon magazine, he worked on the sketch series where he became known for his dark humor.

Following his breakout role on The Mindy Project, where he played one of Mindy Kaling's love interests, Dewey has starred in various projects including Casual, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Pivoting.

08 of 16

Nicholas Podany as Billy Crystal

Nicholas Podany playing Billy Crystal in SNL 1975 — Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty; Bettmann Archive/Getty

Nicholas Podany will play actor Billy Crystal, a former cast member and regular host of the sketch series. Before he was cast in season 10 of SNL, Crystal was slated to appear in the very first episode, however, his scene was cut.

Podany first rose to fame with his role as Albus Potter in Broadway's Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and recently starred in Apple TV+'s series Hello Tomorrow! alongside Billy Crudup.

09 of 16

Rachel Sennott as Rosie Shuster

Rachel Sennott is playing Rosie Shuster, who was married to Michaels from 1971 to 1980 and served as a writer of SNL. Shuster created memorable characters and sketches such as Killer Bees and the Todd and Lisa sketch.

Sennott is best known for her film roles in Shiva Baby, Bodies Bodies Bodies and most recently Bottoms, which she wrote and starred in alongside Ayo Edebiri. Additionally, she appeared on the HBO drama series The Idol with The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp.

10 of 16

Kim Matula as Jane Curtin

Kim Matula is playing Jane Curtin, who appeared on SNL from 1975 to 1980. During her time on the show, she often anchored the "Weekend Update" segment, paired with Dan Aykroyd from 1977 to 1978 and Bill Murray from 1978 to 1980.

Matula is well-known for playing Hope Logan on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful from 2010 to 2016, which earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for outstanding younger actress in a drama series. In recent years, she has appeared on several hit TV series, including Impeachment: American Crime Story, The Sex Lives of College Girls and The Resident.

11 of 16

Cooper Hoffman as Dick Ebersol

Cooper Hoffman will be playing Dick Ebersol, who served as NBC's vice president of late-night programming at the time of SNL's creation. Ebersol worked closely with Michaels to develop the idea for the comedy sketch series and later served as an executive producer from 1981 to 1985.

Hoffman is the son of costume designer Mimi O'Donnell and actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died in February 2014. Following in his father's acting footsteps, Hoffman made his film debut in 2021's Licorice Pizza, which was written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (who frequently collaborated with the late actor). The performance helped him gain critical acclaim, including a Golden Globe nomination for best actor – motion picture musical or comedy.

12 of 16

Emily Fairn as Laraine Newman

Emily Fairn is slated to portray Laraine Newman, who was part of the original SNL cast from 1975 to 1980. During her time on the series, she became known for creating characters like Connie Conehead, proto-Valley girl Sherry and Christie Christina. (Her daughter Hannah Einbinder has followed her into comedy as well!)

Fairn is an English actress who got her big break for her role on The Responder, a BBC One drama that stars Martin Freeman. Additionally, she has appeared on shows such as Rain Dogs and Black Mirror as well as the West End production of Brokeback Mountain alongside Lucas Hedges and Mike Faist.

13 of 16

Matt Wood as John Belushi

Matt Wood will be playing late SNL cast member John Belushi, who died in March 1982 from an accidental drug overdose. During his time on the show from 1975 to 1980, Belushi developed a number of notable SNL characters including Samurai Futaba, Henry Kissinger, Ludwig van Beethoven and Captain James T. Kirk. Additionally, he helped create the Blues Brothers alongside Aykroyd.

Wood is best known for his roles on the stage, including starring in the original Broadway cast of SpongeBob SquarePants and playing Augustus Gloop in the national tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

14 of 16

Kaia Gerber as Jacqueline Carlin

Gerber is playing Jacqueline Carlin, Chevy Chase's ex-wife whom he was married to from 1976 to 1980. During SNL's first season, she also made a handful of appearances on the series.

In addition to following in her mom Cindy Crawford's modeling footsteps, Gerber has taken on various acting roles as of late. After working with Ryan Murphy on American Horror Stories and American Horror Story: Double Feature, she made her feature film debut in Babylon before her breakout role in Bottoms.

15 of 16

Andrew Barth Feldman as Neil Levy

Andrew Barth Feldman will play Neil Levy, who was one of the original writers for SNL.

After making a splash on Broadway for his titular role in Dear Evan Hansen, Feldman made his television acting debut on Disney+'s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. His breakout role came in 2023 as he was cast as the lead opposite Jennifer Lawrence in the comedy No Hard Feelings.

16 of 16

Finn Wolfhard as an NBC page

Finn Wolfhard attends the YSL Beauty Party MYSLF as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 27, 2023 — Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Unlike the rest of the cast, Finn Wolfhard isn't playing a recognizable figure. Per Deadline, his role is simply an NBC page.

Wolfhard is best known for playing Mike Wheeler on Netflix's Stranger Things, which is currently filming its final season. Since the show premiered in 2016, he has taken on a number of other roles, including playing Richie Tozier in the 2017 film adaptation of Stephen King's It, which marked his feature film debut, as well as playing Trevor in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and the recent Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.