Ego Nwodim is leaving “Saturday Night Live” ahead of its 51st season, marking the latest in a wave of cast changes for the long-running sketch show. Nwodim, who joined as a featured player in 2018 and was promoted two years later, announced Friday on Instagram that after seven seasons, she is moving on to new opportunities — and hinted she now has more time for weddings. She thanked Lorne Michaels, her castmates, writers, and crew for their support and the lessons learned on the iconic stage.
Nwodim’s departure comes as five new cast members are set to join the show when it premieres Oct. 4. Ben Marshall, an existing writer for the show and member of the comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy, will become a featured player. Joining him are newcomers Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska. Each will enter as featured players, bringing experience from stand-up, online comedy, television appearances, and live performance.
Several other cast members have confirmed departures in recent weeks. Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and Michael Longfellow announced they would not return, while Heidi Gardner’s exit has been reported but not officially confirmed. Longfellow, who joined as a featured player in 2022 and was promoted last season, shared that his three seasons on the show were transformative and expressed gratitude for the experience. Wakim, a featured player since last season, described leaving as “a gut punch” but expressed excitement for future projects. Walker reflected on his three years on the show, acknowledging both the rewarding and challenging aspects of his time there.
Several writers are also moving on. Celeste Yim, the show’s first openly nonbinary writer, left after five seasons, while Rosebud Baker, known for her work on “Weekend Update,” departed after four seasons. John Higgins, part of Please Don’t Destroy and son of longtime “SNL” writer Steve Higgins, announced he was leaving to pursue acting opportunities.
The changes follow comments from creator Lorne Michaels earlier this year, in which he hinted at a “shake-up” following the show’s historic 50th season. James Austin Johnson, known for his impersonation of President Donald Trump, is one of the few cast members confirmed to return. Over its 50-year history, “SNL” has continually reinvented itself, with performers ranging from John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd to Kate McKinnon and Kenan Thompson.
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