Big changes are on the horizon for Saturday Night Live as Season 51 prepares to shake up its cast.
Lorne Michaels, the legendary producer behind the long-running sketch show, teased that there will be major cast changes ahead of Season 51, which premieres October 4.
During a recent interview with Puck News, Michaels, 80, confirmed the shake-up. When asked if he plans to “shake things up” with the cast, he replied, “Yeah, for sure.” He added that he feels the “pressure to reinvent this season” and promised that the full lineup “will be announced in a week or so.”
So far, the only cast member Michaels has confirmed will return is James Austin Johnson, who reprised his role as President Donald Trump during Season 50. The previous season also starred Michael Che, Colin Jost, Mikey Day, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang, Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, Marcello Hernandez, Andrew Dismukes, Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker. Featured players Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim and Jane Wickline rounded out the ensemble.
Sunday night brought the first confirmed exit ahead of the new season when writer Celeste Yim announced they would be leaving after five seasons.
“After five seasons, I’m leaving my job at Saturday Night Live,” Yim wrote on Instagram. “Lorne hired me over the phone when I was 23 and the job literally made all of my dreams come true BUT it was also grueling and I slept in my office every week BUT my friends helped me with everything BUT I got yelled at by random famous men BUT some famous girls too BUT I loved it and I laughed every day and it’s where I grew up.”
Reflecting on their groundbreaking role, Yim continued, “I hate when other people say this but it’s true that I was the first ever out trans person to be a writer for SNL. I always felt honored to be working within the long tradition of queer writing at the show. Many don’t know this but Chevy is non-binary! I feel so powerless to protect trans people in the world but writing connects us and makes us permanent, so it’s what I will continue to do.”
Yim also thanked friends, family, and colleagues: “Thank you to my family and friends who love me still even though I did not see them very much. And thank you all for your support.”
As of late August 2025, two cast members have announced their exits from Saturday Night Live ahead of Season 51. Scroll through our gallery to find out who’s leaving so far.
