Saturday Night Live is coming to the end of a momentous season, one which included a 50th anniversary telecast that was as star-studded as anyone could have expected.
But as the cast of the long-running NBC comedy starts to prepare for the season finale on May 17, hosted by Scarlett Johansson, the rumor mill has been heating up regarding which of them might leave the show this summer.
Ego Nwodim, who joined the cast in 2018 for Season 44, told Deadline recently Season 50 felt like “building up to a wedding.” But as a recent study highlighted, the more one spends on a wedding, the more likely the chance of divorce.
Many observers expect there to be some departures after Season 50 but few expect a full exodus, similar to the one that happened three years ago at the end of season 47. >>>Rumored Departures |
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| Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
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Voight's Tariff Plan & Reactions - Deadline exclusively published Jon Voight's proposal to reinvigorate Hollywood, which won applause from the Teamsters and has reanimated conversation around restoring the FINSYN Rule, which previously banned the broadcast networks from having financial interest in their primetime entertainment programs. >>> Praise Mixed With Skepticism
Original Fin-Syn - Part of the Jon Voight-led proposal to overhaul Hollywood's financial models in pursuit of President Trump's goal to "make Hollywood great again" has jolted the TV business. It advocates for a return of the "fin-syn" (financial interest and syndication) rules, which helped producers like Norman Lear and Aaron Spelling rise to power in the 1970s before a contentious effort to roll back the scheme finally succeeded in 1993. Several TV potentates tell Deadline the 5-page document has initiated an important conversation, with one producer saying Voight has "correctly identified the problem, which is so glaring that Hollywood is disappearing before our eyes." >>> "No Purview Or Authority"
'L&O: SVU' Departures - Juliana Martinez and Octavio Pisano will not be returning to NBC's Law & Order: SVU as series regulars if/when the procedural is picked up for a 27th season. Martinez joined the cast this season as Detective Kate Silva, while Pisano was added in Season 23 as undercover detective Joe Velasco. >>>Budget Reductions
Stephen A. Smith Q&A - A potential presidential run, his definition of personal success, the sex crimes allegations against First Take regular Shannon Sharpe and his guest spot on Law & Order were all on the table for our conversation with Stephen A. Smith. >>>Movie, TV Ambitions
Inside N. Korea - Jameela Jamil (The Good Place) and Won Ji-an (Squid Game) have been tapped for key roles in Pyongyang Home Video, a new drama inspired by true events, which centers on two North Korean sisters reenacting Hollywood movies to escape the perils of their young lives. >>>Imagine Producing
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson: Doc Talk - Questlove joins the latest edition of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast to talk about Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius), share his observations on what made Sly Stone great and what impelled him to tumble from the mountaintop of rock stardom. >>>Listen
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In an interview with Deadline, The Rookie creator/executive producer Alexi Hawley spoke about Randy’s return and when we can see Pete back on the show. He addressed the future of the DA race, what’s next for Celina and Rodge, the celebrity cameos in the episode and how Lucy’s promotion will impact her relationship with Tim. That will be addressed in the upcoming Season 7 finale next Tuesday which, as the promo at the end of last night's episode reveals, will feature the return of escaped prisoner Oscar (Matthew Glave). >>>Read The Interview |
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Exclusive
Apple's Cape Fear series has three new additions: Anna Baryshnikov (Love Lies Bleeding), Jamie Hector (Bosch) and Clara Wong (Billions).
Exclusive
Caitríona Balfe is set to join the ensemble of Apple Original Films' upcoming pic Tenzing, which already stars Tom Hiddleston and Willem Dafoe.
One key character in The Fantastic Four: First Steps universe found its voice in sound editor and voice actor Matthew Wood: H.E.R.B.I.E., the droid created by Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards.
In Brief - A Man on the Inside rounds out Season 2 cast... Amazon's Off Campus series casts Season 1 couple, future leads |
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More News
🏆 Organizers of the Golden Globes said this morning that the ceremony will introduce a Best Podcast category beginning with the 83rd Globes in 2026. The recognition for the burgeoning medium will mark a first for a major film and TV awards show.
🎵 A new musical, titled Saturday Church, with music and lyrics by “Chandelier” performer Sia is planned for fall 2025 at the prestigious Off Broadway venue New York Theatre Workshop.
📺 The Corporation for Public Broadcasting said Tuesday that the Trump administration has terminated grants that have long been used to fund education initiatives and PBS Kids programming.
💰 Good Night, and Good Luck, the new play by George Clooney and Grant Heslov, and directed by David Cromer, has broken its own all-time record for highest grossing play in Broadway history and is the first play to surpass a gross of $4 million in a single week.
🌴 Quentin Tarantino will be guest of honor for Cannes Classics this year, the section announced today while also unveiling its lineup. |
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BY THE NUMBERS
$34M - Financial boost to Argentina’s economy from Netflix's 'The Eternaut' |
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Trending
 Netflix had a new TV Top 10 leader last week with the debut of The Four Seasons. The eight-episode romantic comedy scored 11.9M views in its first weekend.
🔻 Marcus Theatres, the nation’s no. 4 chain, saw losses in the March quarter grow to $6.3 million from $5.7 million on a softer box office and higher costs. |
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On the Radar
Wed - Deadline Sound & Screen: Television
Thu - WBD, Paramount, TKO earnings; ACMAs; Joe Biden on The View
Sun - Mother's Day
Mon - Fox Corp. earnings; Upfronts begin; Tom Cruise receives BFI Fellowship; Diddy trial opening statements
Tue - Cannes kicks off |
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One More Time - Greg Tarzan Davis, Hayley Atwell, Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, Simon Pegg and Pom Klementieff embark on the long train of promotional appearances for Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning at the film's Japan Premiere. |
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