Saturday Night’s Jason Reitman Explains Why Nicholas Braun Has 2 Roles in the Movie

Saturday Night’s Jason Reitman Explains Why Nicholas Braun Has 2 Roles in the Movie

As a seasoned gamer who has dabbled in his fair share of character-driven games, I find myself intrigued by the decision to cast Nicholas Braun as not one, but two iconic figures in Saturday Night. The idea of an actor portraying multiple characters within a single production is reminiscent of the joyous chaos that ensues when you discover a secret character in a game you thought you knew inside and out.


Jason Reitman offers a reason behind Nicholas Braun taking on dual roles within the film titled “Saturday Night“.

The upcoming movie, titled “Saturday Night,” set in the 1975 debut of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, will hit US theaters nationwide this October. Directed by Reitman, it features Gabriel LaBelle portraying Lorne Michaels, Rachel Sennott as Rosie Shuster, and Cooper Hoffman as Dick Ebersol.

In the film, Braun, famously recognized for his role as Gregory Hirsch on HBO’s Succession, takes on dual roles, portraying both Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson. Originally, Benny Safdie was set to play Kaufman, but he had to withdraw from the project due to scheduling conflicts with other projects.

Why is Nicholas Braun playing two different roles in Saturday Night?

As I share my thoughts with you, let me explain why I, as the director, chose to cast Braun in dual roles for our movie – portraying both Kaufman and Henson. IndieWire was privy to this insightful discussion.

We reached out to Jim Henson regarding Nick’s project. In the same room, we’d joke around, saying things like, ‘Rags for rent? Forget it!’ envisioning Nicholas Braun delivering the lines and thinking, ‘This is going to be fantastic.’ Initially, Benny Safdie was set to portray Andy Kaufman, but due to his film getting the green light (which he recently completed directing), he became unavailable. As we pondered over who could perfectly embody Andy Kaufman, our thoughts consistently returned to Nicholas Braun. Then, we realized, ‘Oh yes, on SNL, one can portray multiple characters.’

It’s astonishing to me how many individuals are unaware that they’re played by the same actor. Fans of Nicholas Braun would certainly recognize this, but I’ve encountered numerous people who inquire about different actors portraying those roles.

In addition to the main cast of Saturday Night, you’ll find Cory Michael Smith portraying Chevy Chase, Ella Hunt taking on the role of Gilda Radner, Dylan O’Brien stepping into Dan Aykroyd’s shoes, Matt Wood as John Belushi, Emily Fairn playing Laraine Newman, Lamorne Morris embodying Garrett Morris, Willem Dafoe as David Tebet, Matthew Rhys portraying George Carlin, and Tommy Dewey in the role of Michael O’Donoghue. Plus, there are more talented actors joining the ensemble.

On September 27, 2024, the movie “Saturday Night” will have a limited showing in cinemas across the USA, courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing. A wide release will follow on October 11, 2024.

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2024-09-11 20:10