Dylan O’Brien, Lamorne Morris and More Join ‘SNL 1975’

The movie will chart the chaotic lead up to the first broadcast of ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 1975, with Gabriel LaBelle and Cooper Hoffman also in the cast.

(Left) Lamorne Morris in 'Fargo' Season 5. Photo: FX. (Center) Dylan O'Brien in 'American Assassin.' Photo: Lionsgate. (Left) Cory Michael Smith in 'Gotham.' Photo: Warner Bros. Television.

Preview:

Jason Reitman is making a movie about ‘SNL’s origins.
Dylan O’Brien, Lamorne Morris and Cory Michael Smith are among the latest additions.
The actors will play ‘SNL’ comedy legends such as Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase.

While Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan have largely focused their energies on creating new ‘Ghostbusters’ movies (their latest, ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’, hits theaters in March), they’ve also quietly been at work on writing a new movie that will look at the fraught first night broadcast of ‘Saturday Night Live’.

With Kenan having taken directorial duties on ‘Frozen Empire’, that has freed Reitman up to develop and prepare to direct ‘SNL 1975’, which is set behind the scenes of the televisual comedy institution.

They’ve been announcing the cast (mostly via Deadline) over the last few days, with the most recent (Weekend) update including Dylan O’Brien, Lamorne Morris, Cory Michael Smith and Matt Wood.

SNL 1975

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On October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. This is the true story of what happened that night behind the... Read the Plot

What’s the story of ‘SNL 1975’?

(L to R) Laraine Newman, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Garrett Morris and Chevy Chase on 'Saturday Night Live.' Photo: NBC.

On October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. 'SNL 1975' is the true story of what happened behind the scenes that night in the moments leading up to the first broadcast of NBC’s SNL. It depicts the chaos and magic of a revolution that almost wasn’t, counting down the minutes in real time to the infamous words, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”

The screenplay is based on an extensive series of interviews conducted by Reitman and Kenan with all the living cast, writers and crew.

Who is starring in ‘SNL 1975’?

(Left) Gabriel LaBelle in 'The Fabelmans.' Photo: Universal Pictures. (Left Center) Kim Matula in 'Checkin it Twice.' Photo: Hallmark Channel. (Right Center) Ella Hunt in 'Anna and the Apocalypse.' Photo: Vertigo Releasing. (Right) Cooper Hoffman in 'Licorice Pizza.' Photo: United Artists Releasing.

Dylan O’Brien will play Dan Aykroyd, while Lamorne Morris is Garrett Morris (the two are not related), Cory Michael Smith is Chevy Chase and Matt Wood will play John Belushi.

Also on the cast front, Ella Hunt has the role of Gilda Radner, Kim Matula will be Jane Curtin and Emily Fairn is Laraine Newman.

There are also those behind the scenes of ‘Saturday Night Live’, with Gabriel LaBelle playing Lorne Michaels, the legendary creator and producer of the show whose eye for talent has led to careers for a host of people, with Cooper Hoffman as Dick Ebersol, an ambitious NBC executive who helped shepherd the show to air.

Finally –– at least for now –– is Rachel Sennott, who will be Rosie Shuster, a Canadian comedy writer and actor who was married to Michaels at the time and worked on the show.

When will ‘SNL 1975’ be in theaters?

Sony is backing the new movie, but the studio has yet to confirm a release date, and Reitman is still in pre-production. ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’, meanwhile, will be in theaters on March 22nd.