After a landmark 50th season, Saturday Night Live (SNL) is bracing for one of its most dramatic cast overhauls in recent memory. As the iconic NBC sketch comedy show gears up for its Season 51 premiere on October 4, 2025, fans are reeling from a wave of high-profile departures—both expected and surprising—signaling a new era for the legendary Studio 8H stage.
The exodus began on August 25, 2025, when Devon Walker, a standout talent known for his sharp impressions and candid humor, announced via Instagram that he would not be returning. "Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool. Sometimes it was toxic as hell. But we did what we made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a fucked up lil family," Walker wrote, reflecting a mix of gratitude and honesty about his time on the show, according to Deadline and Parade.
Walker, who joined SNL in 2022 and was promoted to the main cast ahead of Season 50, quickly became a fan favorite for his portrayals of public figures like New York City Mayor Eric Adams and sports personalities such as Michael Strahan and Shannon Sharpe. His departure, the first to be announced from the Season 50 cast, set off a domino effect that would soon see other key players exit.
Just two days later, on August 27, Emil Wakim revealed he, too, would not be returning for another season. Wakim, who joined SNL as a featured player for Season 50, shared the news in a heartfelt Instagram post, recalling the moment he received the call about his exit while celebrating a friend's birthday at Six Flags. "It was a gut punch of a call to get but I’m so grateful for my time there," Wakim wrote, as reported by Variety. He described his brief tenure as "the most terrifying, thrilling, and rewarding experience of my life and I will miss it dearly and all the brilliant people that work there that made it feel like a home." Wakim’s sketches, such as his portrayal of Luigi Mangione and his memorable "Weekend Update" segment about his Christian Arab heritage, left a mark despite his short run.
The departures continued to mount. On August 28, Michael Longfellow, who joined SNL in Season 48 and was promoted to the main cast by Season 50, announced he would not return for a fourth season. In a poignant Instagram message, Longfellow wrote, "Will not be returning for a 4th season at SNL. Wish I was but, so it goes. It was the best three years of my life so far. I feel nothing but gratitude for the experience and everyone there. Lorne, you gave me the greatest job in the world and changed my life. You even put my mom on TV. Thank you doesn’t begin to cover it, but thank you. I’ll miss it all, but I’ll miss the friends I made and seeing them everyday the most," as quoted by Deadline and Variety. Longfellow became known for his sardonic "Weekend Update" banter with Colin Jost, touching on topics from Real ID to family politics.
Perhaps the most shocking exit was that of Heidi Gardner, who, after eight seasons, was the longest-tenured current female cast member. Gardner joined SNL in Season 43 and was promoted to the main cast in Season 45. Her range—from the beloved "Weekend Update" character Bailey Gismert to the viral "Beavis and Butt-Head" sketch—made her a staple of the show. As Parade noted, Gardner’s departure underscores the magnitude of this year’s shakeup, as she had appeared in the most sketches in Season 49 and was a fan favorite for her comedic versatility.
The reasons behind this sweeping cast turnover seem to trace back to SNL’s creator and executive producer, Lorne Michaels. Earlier in the summer, Michaels hinted at major changes in a Puck interview, stating he planned to "shake things up" as the show transitioned into its next half-century. According to Parade, the recent cast cuts were driven by Michaels himself, rather than the traditional pattern of voluntary departures by cast members ready to move on. This approach has sparked speculation about what the future holds for the show’s creative direction.
In addition to the cast changes, SNL’s writing staff is also undergoing a transformation. Notably, Celeste Yim, the show’s first trans non-binary writer, announced their exit after five seasons, having joined as a writer in 2020 and later becoming a writing supervisor during Season 48. Rosebud Baker, who spent three seasons as a writer after collaborating with Michael Che, will also not be returning. These departures mark a significant shift behind the scenes, adding to the uncertainty about SNL’s evolving comedic voice.
As of August 29, 2025, no new cast members have been announced for Season 51, leaving fans and industry insiders alike in suspense. The remaining Season 50 cast members—such as Michael Che, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Colin Jost, Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang, Ashley Padilla, and Jane Wickline—have yet to confirm their return or departure. Historically, SNL has unveiled new cast members and staff changes in the weeks leading up to the season premiere, so updates are expected imminently.
This level of turnover is reminiscent of past shakeups, such as after Season 47 when eight cast members left, but those exits largely reflected personal decisions rather than network-driven cuts. The current wave, driven by Michaels’ vision for the show’s future, signals a more deliberate attempt to reshape SNL’s comedic landscape as it enters its second half-century.
Despite the bittersweet farewells, there’s an undercurrent of optimism among departing cast members. Wakim, for example, concluded his Instagram message with, "I was so lucky to bring some of myself in there and say things I believed in and I’m excited for whatever chapter comes next. Here’s to making more art without compromise." Walker, meanwhile, quipped about his post-SNL plans: "I’m ‘bout to go to Japan. When I get back I’m tryna be in a prestige drama. Ideally something with Julianne Moore. Hope y’all staying hydrated and getting some money today."
As SNL prepares for its October 4 return, the show stands at a crossroads—balancing the nostalgia of its 50-year legacy with the need for reinvention. The cast departures, though jarring, may well set the stage for a new generation of comedians and writers to leave their mark on American pop culture’s most enduring comedy institution.
