Live from New York: Fancasting a hypothetical SNL biopic

The Main Players

Will Forte as Lorne Michaels

Appeared in: Saturday Night Live, Nebraska, The Last Man on Earth

I can't take credit for this bit of ingenious fan casting as both the internet and SNL figured this one out long before I did. I was initially hesitant to fan cast Forte as his former boss Lorne Michaels given that he's already portrayed another comedy godfather in A Futile and Stupid Gesture but f**k it. The idea was too good to pass up. I think Forte would perfectly capture the early years of a man he worked with closely for eight years and portray Michaels with the nuance and respect he deserves.

Considered: Jack Falahee, Jason Schwartzman

Clips: https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/weekend-update-segment-jiminy-glick/n11956 (2:21)

Anthony Ingruber as Chevy Chase

Appeared in: The Age of Adaline, Eyes Open Nevermore, Last Passenger

Anthony Ingruber is widely known for his resemblance and impression of Harrison Ford but he's also appeared in a variety of independent and feature films. The man is a very versatile performer and voice actor (he got nominated for his work as the Joker in Batman: The Telltale Series) and excellent at impressions, so I have no doubt that he'd be able to pull off Chase's voice. In addition to his mimicry skills, Ingruber is also very adept at portraying cocky and smarmy dudes, so he'd be perfect as Chase.

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Brett Kline as Dan Aykroyd

Appeared in: The King of Detroit

Brett Kline is a comedian and actor living in New York City who has cited Dan Aykroyd as one of his biggest comedic influences. He received a BFA in Acting from Michigan State University and is trained in classical, musical theatre, and film. Kline also writes comedy sketches for United Stations Radio Networks in New York. Given his comedy roots, training, and love for Aykroyd I think Brett Kline would do a solid job portraying one of his comedy heroes. It also doesn't hurt that he bears a strong resemblance to one half of The Blues Brothers.

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Sandy Danto as John Belushi

Appeared in: Funny Fat Guy, Quad X, Tar

Sandy Danto is a stand-up comedian and actor who got his start creating content for National Lampoon. I first came across Danto when I found a video he made recreating John Belushi's SNL audition and was amazed at the resemblance. In my opinion, he nailed the recreation and has the eyebrow action down as well. In addition to the eerie resemblance, Danto is a fantastic actor. His performance in the indie film Funny Fat Guy (which I caught a screening of at the Marina del Rey Film Festival in 2018) was heartbreaking. If he brings the same level of acting to portraying Belushi then we'd be in for a treat.

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An unknown as Gilda Radner

For someone as hilarious, charming, and talented as Gilda Radner was, it would be best to cast an unknown actress/comedian in the part. This was among the hardest to fan cast and as you can see it's not one I could quite figure out for Gilda Radner was truly one of a kind.

Considered: Emma Stone, Hayley Orrantia

Maddie Hasson as Jane Curtin

Appeared in: Twisted, The Finder, Impulse

Jane Curtin didn't really stick around for the after show parties instead choosing to go home to her husband and cat and always gave some serious 'tude in SNL promo pics, so who better to play the Queen of Deadpan than someone who has been called "a spitfire" and "the most mature actor on the set" by her much older peers?

Hasson is an extremely talented young actress who can hold her own against acting giants like Tom Hiddleston and the late Michael Clarke Duncan. Although she doesn't look much like Curtin, I can easily see her pulling it off.

Considered: Tess Lynch (Jane Curtin's daughter)

Suggested: Riki Lindholme

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Maya Hawke as Laraine Newman

Appeared in: Stranger Things, Little Women

I've seen Vanessa Bayer suggested several times online but I wanted to go with someone a little less obvious and thought of Maya Hawke. Hawke's Robin in Stranger Things is equal parts hilarious and serious showcasing the young thespian's talent for handling both drama and humor. She'd be quite charming as (possibly) the most underrated SNL cast member.

Considered: Zoe Kazan

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Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris

Appeared in: New Girl, Game Night

I can't take credit for this one. That's all the internet, folks. I actually wasn't really familiar with Lamorne Morris until I watched Game Night and he is such a hilarious and talented performer. I think Morris would do the role justice and faithfully recreate Garrett Morris's sketch performances.

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The Writers

Wesley Toledo as Michael O'Donaghue

Appeared in: The Disposal, The Twist

Described as "the angriest, craziest man to ever hate," Michael O'Donaghue indelibly shaped two of his generation's best-known institutions of humor: National Lampoon and Saturday Night Live. As the head writer of the show, O'Donaghue was every bit as instrumental in SNL's success as the Not Ready for Prime Time Players and Lorne Michaels, so he is deserving of someone who can properly portray him with the same kind of intelligence and edge he was well known for.

Enter Wesley Toledo. Toledo is not a big name but he just might be one day. He's performed in several plays and acted in a couple of short films with The Twist being the one that caught my attention. Toldeo portrays aggressive and angry so intensely yet subdued in The Twist that you are sure the streak bubbling under the surface will break through any minute and that's exactly what is needed to portray the kind of walking explosive time bomb that O'Donaghue seemed to be (by all accounts).

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Alia Shawkat as Anne Beatts

Appeared in: Arrested Development, Search Party

C'mon, Alia Shawkat as Anne Beatts would be kickass.

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Lily Collins as Rosie Shuster

Appeared in: Rules Don't Apply, Extremely Wicked

I think Collins would do a solid job as Rosie Shuster and play off of Will Forte and Brett Kline really well.

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Zosia Mamet as Marilyn Suzanne Miller

Appeared in: Girls

Mamet was actually suggested in another SNL fan cast to play Laraine Newman but I think she'd be better suited as Marilyn Suzanne Miller. Who would be better to play a writer than the daughter of a writer?

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Alden Ehrenreich as Al Franken

Appeared in: Hail Caesar!, The Yellow Birds, Solo: A Star Wars Story

Ehrenreich is a talented dude and was praised for a scene-stealing turn as a 1950s movie star in The Coen Brother's Hail Caesar! I think Ehrenreich would do an amazing job as Al Franken and nail Franken's trademark look and gravely voice with ease.

Considered: Andrew Rannells, Emile Hirsch, Chris Miller (director)

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John Reynolds as Tom Davis

Appeared in: Stranger Things, Search Party

Second City alum John Reynolds plays affable, seemingly clueless Officer Callahan on Stranger Things and I gotta say I enjoy the small-ish screentime that he has on Stranger Things. Reynolds injects a nice little dose of wit in Officer Callahan and it's the same kind of wit he can bring to portraying a man like Tom Davis, one half of the Franken and Davis duo.

Considered: Noah Robbins

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Bridge Stuart or John Francis Daley as Alan Zweibel

(Stuart) Appeared in: Various comedy sketches

(Daley) Appeared in: Freaks and Geeks, Bones, Waiting

The lesser known of the two, Bridge Stuart is a comedy writer and performer. He has a YouTube channel chock full of sketches for which he writes and performs. And they're hilarious. Dude is a natural performer and would deliver with comedic prowess if he were picked to play Zweibel.

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John Francis Daley played Linda Cardellini's kid brother in the short-lived but excellent Freaks in Geeks and grew up to also take on writing and directing duties. Most of his ventures behind the scenes have been comedic in nature, so he seemed like a natural choice to portray one of SNL's best writers.

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Dustin Hahn as Tom Schiller

Appeared in: Parent Teacher, Thunder Road, The Robbery

Hahn is amazing as a teacher desperately trying to keep his cool while dealing with his students' entitled and inconsiderate parents in the short film Parent Teacher. The short was shot in one take and the resultant performance is chief to its success. I just think the dude would be great in such a part if given the chance. Besides, the slight resemblance to Schiller also helps.

Clips:

Parent Teacher: https://vimeo.com/262736422

Host and Musical Guest

Tony Law as George Carlin

Alright, I'm not 100% sold on this one. Tony Law is a Canadian stand up comedian with no acting experience (as far as I know)... yeah I don't know, guys. Fan-casting George Carlin ended up surprisingly being the most difficult to figure out (and it's not quite there).

Alternatively, maybe they could use archive footage with a blend of deepfake technology or cgi (resulting in an amalgamation of real footage and recreation) to recreate George Carlin on stage.

Suggested: Armie Hammer, Xander Berkely (great suggestion but too old for Carlin's younger years)

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Craig Robinson as Billy Preston

Appeared in: Brooklyn Nine Nine, The Office, Hot Tub Time Machine

... this is the obvious choice.

Clips: C'mon, do I really have to link a clip? Y'all know.

Hayley Orrantia as Janis Ian

Appeared in: The Goldbergs

Girl's got some pipes.

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Supporting Players

Jon Favreau as Dave Wilson

Appeared in: Iron Man, Chef, Spider-Man: Far From Home

Dave Wilson directed many episodes of SNL, so why not get a director with acting chops to play another director?

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Austin Butler as Andy Kaufman

Appeared in: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Butler recently beat out Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, and Aaaron Taylor-Johnson (among others) for the opportunity to portray Elvis Presely in Baz Luhrmann's upcoming biopic, so I think he'd fare well as Andy Kaufman.

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Jamie Costa as Bill Murray

Appeared in: Shadows of Man, Kenobi: A Star Wars Fan Film, Robot Riot

Jamie Costa is an excellent up and coming actor. Costa continuously turns in performances in a variety of industrial, indie, and feature films and his performances always turn out to be a highlight, so he would do no differently here as Bill Murray (who I picture playing a short but memorable role in the story of SNL's beginnings). Additionally, he's also an extremely skilled impressionist and is able to do an excellent Bill Murray impression, so he'd be able to capture the voice quite well but give it nuance and not overdo it as he demonstrated with the performances he delivered in his Star Wars fan films.

Suggested: Dan O'Brien

Clips:

Bill Murray impression: https://vine.co/v/MlTmUtprvJ9 (this isn't actually the one I'm referring to as I remember seeing another Bill Murray impression he did that was flawless but unfortunately I can no longer find it).

Joe Coffey as Albert Brooks

Appeared in: Quad X, Popeye the Pizza Man

I thoroughly enjoyed Coffey's performance in the comedy short Quad X where he plays a young James Caan, which is funny because young Albert Brooks reminds me of young James Caan and this guy reminds me of both, so he's the next best thing if a production needs a Caan or Brooks type.

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Jim Meskimen as Don Pardo

Appeared in: There Will Be Blood, Apollo 13, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Jim Meskimen is such a talented actor, improviser, and impressionist. It's a shame he's so underrated. He'd be wonderful as the late Don Pardo.

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Sam Rockwell as Paul Schaeffer

Appeared in: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Vice, Iron Man 2, Conviction

I just think Sam Rockwell would be great.

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Fred Armisen as Howard Shore

Appeared in: SNL, Portlandia, Forever

Composer Howard Shore helped kick off SNL and served as the original musical director from 1975 to 1980. Gotta be honest here and say while I kind of dig this choice, I'm not entirely sold on it as I feel like having Armisen portray Shore would come across as Armisen doing a sketch character. However, I do think he'd be able to pull it off. Any thoughts?

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