Filmmaker Jason Reitman (“Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “Up in the Air”) is set to direct a feature about the behind-the-scenes events that took place ahead of the very first broadcast of “Saturday Night Live” on October 11th 1975.
Deadline broke the news, indicating the project is currently untitled and is based on real-life accounts of what happened on the long-running satirical series’ opening night. It will tell how this ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever.
Reitman will also re-team with “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” co-writer Gil Kenan to work on the script together. The pair reportedly conducted an extensive series of interviews with all the living cast, writers, and crew to make sure to get the details right.
At the time of its debut, the original cast included Second City alumni like Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi and Gilda Radner, as well as Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris and George Coe who left after this single episode.
George Carlin was the host for that first episode, performing three complete monologues but not participating in sketches. Andy Kaufman and Valri Bromfield made guest appearances.
National Lampoon writer Michael O’Donoghue served as the show’s original head writer, Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore created the original theme music and was the original bandleader.
That original episode was more of a variety show than a sketch comedy show, with the series changing throughout that first season. SNL continues to this day with 48 seasons and 948 produced episodes under its belt.
Reitman and Kenan are currently in production on the “Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel which Kenan is directing.
