Following the recent Telluride release of Jason Reitman’s SNL origins film, “Saturday Night,” there has been a wave of critical acclaim surrounding the project. In response to this positive reception, Sony has decided to change up the release pattern of the ensemble pic. The movie is set to go exclusive on Sept 27 in LA, NYC, and Toronto, before transitioning to a limited release on Oct. 4, and finally breaking wide on Oct. 11.
“Saturday Night” is also scheduled to have its international premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday, September 10. The film has already garnered an 85% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with Deadline’s Awards Editor and Chief Film Critic Pete Hammond declaring that Reitman has truly “nailed it” in casting the 80-speaking role movie.
The Stellar Cast and Masterful Execution
The ensemble cast of “Saturday Night” includes Gabriel LaBelle as SNL producer Lorne Michaels, Dylan O’Brien as Dan Aykroyd, Willem Dafoe as NBC exec David Tebet, Cory Michael Smith as a “spot-on Chevy Chase,” Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris, Matt Wood as John Belushi, and Succession’s Nicholas Braun pulling double duty as Jim Henson and Andy Kaufman. Hammond raves that the film is “a masterful movie comedy firing on all cylinders” and also doubles as “a suspense thriller too.” He commends Reitman for steering the ship with style, creating one of the greatest movies about show business.
The Origins and Legacy of “Saturday Night”
Reitman’s untitled SNL 1975 project has now officially been titled “Saturday Night,” and it is slated for release on October 11 via Columbia Pictures. The choice of release date holds historical significance, as it marks the same date of the legendary NBC comedy show’s first-ever broadcast in 1975. The late-night staple is on the verge of launching its 50th season this fall.
The Behind-the-Scenes Magic
The film, directed by Reitman and written by Gil Kenan & Reitman, is based on a true story and delves into the humor, chaos, and magic that unfolded in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live. The star-studded ensemble cast also features Rachel Sennott as Rosie Shuster, Finn Wolfhard as an NBC page, Jon Batiste as Billy Preston, Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner, Cooper Hoffman as Dick Ebersol, Andrew Barth Feldman as Neil Levy, Naomi McPherson as Janis Ian, J.K. Simmons as Milton Berle, and Kaia Gerber as Jacqueline Carlin, among others.
The production of “Saturday Night” is in the capable hands of Jason Blumenfeld, Peter Rice, Reitman, and Kenan as producers, with Erica Mills and JoAnn Perritano serving as executive producers. The film promises to offer audiences an insightful and entertaining look into the origins of one of television’s most iconic shows, with a fresh and modern twist that is sure to captivate both fans of the original SNL and newcomers alike.