SNL cast locked in for next season with familiar faces returning

Ahead of SNL Season 51 premiere, the cast for the upcoming season has been locked in. Created by Lorne Michaels, NBC's long-running live sketch comedy show first premiered in 1975. Even after five decades, it continues to win the hearts of the audience with comedy sketches. SNL 50, the three-hour special celebration of the show's 50th season that aired on NBC and Peacock on February 16, 2025, bagged multiple Creative Arts Emmys.

Each episode opens with a cold open that covers some current, trendy events, usually political. It is followed by the celebrity guest host delivering a monologue, and then the most-awaited comedy sketch happens. After the second tier, the host usually introduces a musical guest who performs a song or two. The show ends with a goodnight segment, and the host thanks the guests and the audience.

The cast for SNL Season 51 looks promising. With some familiar faces exiting the show and others returning, we also have some new faces, such as Ben Marshall, joining the team. Marshall served as a writer for the show since 2021 and was subsequently promoted to a featured player.

Continue reading to know more.

A complete guide to the SNL Season 51 cast

Among the cast members who are returning are Michael Che, the popular anchor of the Weekend Update. Even though there were chances that both Che and his co-anchor, Colin Jost, might be leaving the show, Jost's wife, Scarlett Johansson, revealed to Entertainment Weekly that Jost would be returning for the upcoming season.

Apart from Ben Marshall joining the cast, it also features Tommy Brennan, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska, and Jeremy Culhane. The returning faces include Michael Che, Marcello Hernandez, Ashley Padilla, Jane Wickline, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Colin Jost, Mikey Day, Ego Nwodin, Sarah Sherman, Bowen Yang, Kenan Thompson, and James Austin.

Among the ones who are exiting SNL this season are Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim, John Higgins and Heidi Gardener.

Why are the longtime cast members leaving SNL 51?

The major cast shakeup, with five members leaving and five fresh faces joining, is due to both professional and personal factors. For instance, creator Lorne Michaels had teased a major cast change a month or two ahead of its premiere.

Devon Walker took to social media to announce his exit from the show. He also quoted that even though it was fun, it turned toxic. Apart from them, Emil Walkim is also not returning for this season, and he took to social media to explain his exit and showed gratitude and thankfulness. As per reports, Heidi Graderner's reason for exit was due to the non-renewal of her contract.

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SNL 51 premieres on Saturday, October 4, 2025, on NBC and Peacock.

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