Jason Reitman’s ‘Saturday Night’ Movie to Make Awards Push Early in Theaters

Jason Reitman’s ‘Saturday Night’ Movie to Make Awards Push Early in Theaters

As a long-time admirer of groundbreaking television shows that have shaped our cultural landscape, I can hardly contain my excitement for Sony’s upcoming release, “Saturday Night.” Having grown up watching the original cast’s antics and sketch comedy that defied conventional norms, the prospect of delving into the 90 minutes leading up to their iconic first episode in 1975 is nothing short of exhilarating.


Sony is intensifying its strategy for honoring Jason Reitman’s movie based on ‘Saturday Night Live’, which is a gripping portrayal of the pivotal 90 minutes preceding the premiere of the legendary NBC show during the 1970s.

On Thursday evening, it was revealed that the studio intends to premiere Saturday Night in select cinemas across New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto on September 27th. An additional expansion is scheduled for October 4th. As previously planned, the film will be released nationwide on October 22nd.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled about the decision to release the highly anticipated movie by Sony and its filmmakers early. This strategic move allows the power of word-of-mouth to fuel excitement, as it was one of the most talked-about titles at the prestigious Telluride Film Festival. Known as a key launching pad for Oscar contenders, this event gives us a glimpse into the competitive awards landscape ahead.

As a devoted admirer, let me share my awe at the legendary transformation wrought by showrunner Lorne Michaels and his brilliant ensemble of young comedians and scribes who revolutionized television and culture, forever etching their names in history. Reitman, alongside Gil Kenan, penned the script and skillfully steered the direction of this groundbreaking production.

Originally known as a “high-idea” film, during the time when Saturday Night Live was television’s biggest sensation, the concept is to create a movie about the beginnings of this late-night comedy series. However, instead of spanning weeks or months, the story unfolds within the 90 minutes leading up to the show’s first airing in October 1975. The narrative focuses on the pressures faced by the creators, observes the actors refining their skits while musicians rehearse, and captures the anxiety of NBC executives. (Stephen Farber’s review for THR)

The brief preview for the movie showcases the turmoil happening during the last 90 minutes before the debut of the inaugural episode, featuring an intense conversation between the show’s creator, Michael (portrayed by Gabriel LaBelle), and NBC executive Dick Ebersol (played by Cooper Hoffman).

In the recording, Ebersol expresses his thoughts as, “Lorne, is it ever baffling to you that a team of untrained 20-year-olds agreed to produce 90 minutes of live television? Don’t you sometimes ponder why they accepted a countercultural show featuring complete novices, with no plot and minimal structure? They seem to be setting you up for failure.

This leads Lorne to respond, “We just have to make it to air.”

Reitman and Gil Kenan penned the script for “Saturday Night” after speaking with the show’s current cast, writers, and crew about its initial broadcast, as it approaches its 50th season. Previously titled “SNL 1975”, the film is produced by Reitman, Kenan, Jason Blumenfeld, and Peter Rice. The executive producers are Erica Mills and JoAnn Perritano.

depicting the original cast members of SNL are Dylan O’Brien (as Dan Aykroyd), Lamorne Morris (portraying Garrett Morris), Cory Michael Smith (in the role of Chevy Chase), Matt Wood (representing John Belushi), Ella Hunt (taking on Gilda Radner), Emily Fairn (assuming Laraine Newman’s character), and Kim Matula (embodying Jane Curtin).

Among the other actors involved are Willem Dafoe portraying David Tebet, Nicholas Braun as Jim Henson, Matthew Rhys in the role of George Carlin, Kaia Gerber taking on Jacqueline Carlin, J.K. Simmons as Milton Berle, Jon Batiste representing Billy Preston, Andrew Barth Feldman as Neil Levy, Naomi McPherson playing Janis Ian, and Finn Wolfhard in the part of an NBC page.

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2024-09-07 04:54