Saturday Night Live Announces Major Cast Overhaul Ahead of Season 51 Premiere

Saturday Night Live (SNL) is undergoing significant changes for its 51st season, premiering on October 4, 2025, with five new featured cast members joining the show. Executive producer Lorne Michaels, aiming to "shake things up," has overseen the departure of several long-time cast members including Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and John Higgins from the comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy, with Ben Marshall from the trio being promoted to the cast. Returning cast members include Kenan Thompson, Chloe Fineman, Colin Jost, Michael Che, Bowen Yang, Sarah Sherman, James Austin Johnson, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Marcello Hernández, Ashley Padilla, and Jane Wickline. The new season is described as a transitional and "weird" period with uncertainty about who will fill the strong female lead roles left by recent departures. The premiere episode will be hosted by Bad Bunny with Doja Cat as the musical guest, reflecting the show's ongoing effort to appeal to a younger, TikTok-savvy audience. Michaels emphasized that while it is always difficult to say goodbye to beloved cast members, bringing in new generations is essential for the show's revival and continued success.