While the past few weeks have seen a series of fan-favorite&nbsp;SNL&nbsp;cast members and players exit the comedy show, fear not&mdash;some of the series' most beloved are here to stay.

Mark your calendars,&nbsp;Saturday Night Live&nbsp;is returning for Season 51&mdash;and this iteration is set to be buzzier than ever.
Though the past few weeks have seen an <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/saturday-night-live-writers-players-staff-exiting-ahead-of-season-51" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exodus from&nbsp;SNL</a>, including high-profile exit announcements from Ego Nwodim, Devon Walker, Heidi Gardner, Emil Wakim, and Michael Longfellow, many of our favorite icons are staying on board.&nbsp;
As of Sept. 7, just a month before the show is slated to begin Season 51, the shake-up is finally complete.&nbsp;
Per&nbsp;<a href="https://deadline.com/2025/09/saturday-night-live-snl-cast-shake-up-complete-1236511636/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deadline</a>, cast members Michael Che, Chloe Fineman, Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Colin Jost, Sarah Sherman, and Kenan Thompson will all return for the upcoming season.&nbsp;
Prior to the announcement, rumors swirled online that cast members Michael Che and Bowen Yang may be saying goodbye to the show, but luckily for fans, the two will indeed be returning&mdash;a major win for enthusiasts of the brand of infectious, witty humor that both Che and Yang bring to the show.&nbsp;
Given that Jost, Che's Weekend Update segment co-anchor, has been on the cast for 12 seasons, some fans were also concerned that the comedian would potentially move on, but rumors of an exit were squashed on Sept. 7 after his wife, Scarlett Johansson, told <a href="https://ew.com/scarlett-johansson-confirms-colin-jost-returning-snl-season-51-weekend-update-11805033" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entertainment Weekl</a>y&nbsp;that her husband was indeed "going back to work." Johansson also hinted that she may be returning to make a cameo behind the infamous Weekend Update desk, but as per usual at 30 Rock, appearances are often spur-of-the-moment.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Players Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline will also return to our screens, alongside newcomers Ben Marshall, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/who-is-veronika-slowikowska-saturday-night-live-new-snl-cast-members" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Veronika Slowikowska</a>, whose buzzy appointment was announced last week.&nbsp;
Season 51 will premiere Oct. 4, 2025&mdash;right off the tail of seven wins for the Season 50 anniversary special at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.&nbsp;

Which 'Saturday Night Live' Favorites Are Returning For Season 51?

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