If you’ve ever wondered what it must have been like to launch the first-ever episode of Saturday Night Live, here’s your chance to find out. Saturday Night, which takes the audience back to that monumental day, opens in theaters today.
Directed by Jason Reitman, the film features an exciting ensemble playing real-life cast members, writers, and executives behind the now-iconic show. The Fabelmans breakout Gabriel LaBelle stars as series creator Lorne Michaels. Ella Hunt plays Gilda Radner, Dylan O’Brien is Dan Aykroyd, Emily Fairn stars as Laraine Newman, Cory Michael Smith plays Chevy Chase, Kim Matula is Jane Curtin, Lamorne Morris plays Garrett Morris, and finally, Matt Wood plays John Belushi, all of whom were in the original cast. We also see Kaia Gerber as Jacqueline Carlin.
The entirety of Saturday Night takes place in the hour and a half prior to the first episode going live on air. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, the writers of the film crafted the script “based on their interviews with living cast, writers, and crew.” That episode, which aired live on October 11, 1975, ended up being one of television’s most influential premieres.
In a Saturday Night feature from Sony, Reitman says, “I want the audience to know exactly what it feels like when millions of people are about to watch what a handful of writers, actors, crafts people cobbled together in a matter of days and minutes before I want them to feel like is this possible?” Cory Michael Smith adds, “Jason executed it beautifully and it has created an environment on set and on camera that is really electric and gives this whole movie an insane energy.” It’s safe to say the film will be an entertaining and comedic watch.
While Saturday Night premieres in theaters this weekend, coinciding with SNL’s 50th season, read on for when you’ll be able to stream it.
Where will we be able to stream Saturday Night?
As of now, on November 12, you’ll be able to rent or purchase Saturday Night digitally. And on January 7, the film will be available on DVD and blu-ray.
For those looking for it to make its way to streaming platforms, there isn’t a set date yet. However, we know it will likely end up on Netflix before making its way to Hulu & Disney+ in a deal previously announced by Sony.
In the meantime, new episodes of Saturday Night Live are streaming on Peacock.