Will SNL film 'Saturday Night' feature cameos from real cast members?

Saturday Night Live is gearing up for a busy 12 months. The show will be rolling out its historic 50th season on NBC, and director Jason Reitman will be releasing the film Saturday Night, which details SNL's chaotic origins in 1975.

A non-fiction film has never been made about Saturday Night Live, so part of the appeal of the film will be seeing iconic cast members like Chevy, Chase, Gilda Radner and John Belushi come to life in the guise of young actors like Cory Michael Smith, Ella Hunt and Matt Wood.

Saturday Night will NOT feature SNL cast cameos

Several original cast members, like Radner and Belushi, has since died, but there are plenty of living cast members who have been vocal in their excitement for Saturday Night. The question, of course, gets raised with regards to their involvement. Will the SNL film include cameos from real life cast members? Will eagle-eyed fans spot appearances from the likes of Garett Morris or Jane Curtin?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Saturday Night will not go the cameo route, and instead focus exclusively on the fictional recreations of the original cast. There will no blink-and-you-miss-it appearances, as Reitman and company prefer to keep the emphasis of the film on the story.

Dan Aykroyd advised some of the film's actors

This makes sense, given the tight constraints of the premise. Deadline reports that the film will take place in the 90 minutes leading up to the very first episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975. It's a novel approach to what could otherwise be a distractingly large story. It also allows for inspired casting like J.K. Simmons as comedy icon Milton Berle and Nicholas Braun as Jim Henson.

Dan Aykroyd is thrilled that Teen Wolf star Dylan O'Brien has been cast to play him in Saturday Night. "You know what, I’m just glad the young actor got work," he jokingly said to Entertainment Tonight. "If he’s compelled to play me, well, I’m glad he got work."

Finn Wolfhard, Aykroyd's co-star in the last two Ghostbusters films, will also be appearing in Saturday Night. He told People that his interactions with Aykroyd on the set unwittingly helped prepare him for his role as an NBC executive.

Saturday Night is set for release on October 11, 2024.