“Saturday Night Live” is reportedly undergoing some major cast changes ahead of season 48. On the heels of reports that Pete Davidson is exiting the long-running sketch series, three more of his castmates are expected to depart after the season 47 finale as well. While NBC has yet to confirm the rumours, Deadline is reporting that Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, and Kyle Mooney are all saying goodbye to Studio 8H, too.
All four of the actors who are poised to exit “SNL” have been on the show for eight or more seasons. That’s an impressive feat, especially given how much work they’ve each done beyond “SNL” during their time on the show. Davidson, who joined the series in 2014 when he was just 20 years old, is now a certified movie star thanks to films like “The King of Staten Island” and “Suicide Squad.” Meanwhile, Bryant cocreated and starred in “Shrill,” while McKinnon has taken on lead roles in movies like “The Spy Who Dumped Me,” the “Ghostbusters” reboot, and “Bombshell.”
With their careers becoming increasingly busier over the last few years, all four of the actors have had to sit out episodes due to other commitments. For that reason, it shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise that they’re reportedly choosing now to move on. Plus, while they will all be missed, the “SNL” cast has grown exponentially in recent years. As of the season 47 finale, there are 21 regular stars, including the show’s longest-running cast member to date, Kenan Thompson.
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Check out the gallery to see all of the actors reportedly exiting “SNL” ahead of season 48.
Getty / ANGELA WEISS
Pete Davidson
Davidson joined “SNL” in 2014 and quickly became one of the show’s most well-known stars both on screen and off. The actor created a number of unforgettable characters for “SNL” over the years, but he’ll most likely be best remembered for playing the ultra-chill Chad in multiple sketches. Additionally, Davidson specialised in creating catchy (and hilarious) rap songs like “Staten Island” and “Three Sad Virgins.”
Next up, Davidson is set to star in horror movies “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies” and “The Home.” He’s also starring in and executive producing the semi-autobiographical comedy series “Bupkis”.
Getty / Rich Fury
Aidy Bryant
Bryant has been a mainstay on “SNL” since she joined the series in 2012. Since then she’s garnered acclaim for playing public figures like Senator Ted Cruz and even earned an Emmy nomination for best supporting actress in a comedy series. For three years, she balanced “SNL” with her successful comedy, “Shrill,” which earned her a second Emmy nomination – this time in the lead category.
Right now, it’s unclear what’s next for Bryant, although she’s likely to continue voicing Emmy Fairfax in Netflix’s animated comedy “Human Resources.”
Getty / Frazer Harrison
Kate McKinnon
Like Bryant, McKinnon joined “SNL” in 2012, and she’s earned multiple accolades for her contributions to the series. Over the years, she’s expertly embodied everyone from Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Ellen DeGeneres while also playing unforgettable original characters like Dr. Wenowdis, Olya Povlatsky, and Colleen Rafferty. Along the way, she’s been nominated for nine Emmys (and won two).
As she reportedly prepares to exit “SNL,” McKinnon remains busy as always. Next up, she’ll star alongside Margot Robbie in “Barbie” and take on the role of Grunhilda in the children’s movie “The Lunch Witch.”
Getty / Theo Wargo
Kyle Mooney
While he’s been in a number of memorable skits, Mooney will always be foul-mouthed Baby Yoda to many “SNL” fans. The actor first joined the show in 2013, and since then he’s specialised in creating wonderfully weird sketches about what it’s like behind the scenes on the NBC hit show. For the past nine years, “SNL” has been the comedian’s priority, but his reported exit is sure to lead to a bevy of new projects.
