John Belushi, one of the biggest breakout comedy stars of SNL, will be played by Matt Wood, who has previously appeared in television series such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Difficult People, as well as Broadway shows like SpongeBob SquarePants and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Belushi famously starred in National Lampoon’s Animal House and The Blues Brothers before tragically dying of an overdose at the age of 33. He is widely considered one of the greatest comedic talents to be propelled to mainstream fame from his work on SNL.
Dylan O’Brien – Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd, another major breakout star of the original SNL crew, went on to become a widely recognised actor for his roles in films such as The Blues Brothers, Ghostbusters and Trading Places ; he was also a writer on the former two. Aykroyd will be played by Dylan O’Brien, who first gained prominence for his role as Stiles Stilinski in MTV’s Teen Wolf and his leading role in the Maze Runner franchise that followed.
Cory Michael Smith – Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase also went on to have one of the biggest comedy careers of early SNL stars, later starring in films such as Three Amigos!, Caddyshack and National Lampoon’s Vacation, as well as the hit 2009-2014 TV series Community. He will be played by Cory Michael Smith, who recently starred in Todd Haynes’s May December and previously appeared in Carol, Call Jane and TV series Transatlantic, Utopia and Gotham.
Lamorne Morris – Garrett Morris
Lamorne Morris, best known for playing Winston on the hit TV show New Girl, will be playing SNL star Garrett Morris, who later appeared in films like Coneheads and How High as well as TV series including The Jeffersons and Diff’rent Strokes. The first African American SNL cast member, Morris was best-known on the show for his recurring role as Dominican baseball player Chico Escuela.
Ella Hunt – Gilda Radner
Ella Hunt, known for TV roles in Cold Feet and Dickinson – and previously a child star in films such as Intruders and Les Misérables – will be playing Gilda Radner, a comedy icon who got her start as part of the original cast of SNL. She later had a one-woman Broadway show called Gilda Radner – Live From New York, which was taped and turned into a feature film called Gilda Live by Mike Nichols.
Gabriel LaBelle – Lorne Michaels
Gabriel LaBelle, best known for playing a young Steven Spielberg-inspired character in 2022’s The Fabelmans, will take on the role of SNL boss Lorne Michaels, one of the most formidable figures in late-night television and comedy at large. The producer behind Late Night, The Tonight Show and 30 Rock earned a record 98 Emmy nominations, taking home the award 21 times.
