The names circulating as standouts, per Deadline's sources:
- Los Angeles: Trenton Mason, Kaba Hues, Chase Rosenberg, April Rock
- Chicago: Peyton Ruddy, a 2026 Just for Laughs New Face, who reportedly dominated
- New York: Joey Welsh, who people were raving about, plus Allisha Edwards, Amber Singletary and Saidah Belo-Osagie
The bigger conversation backstage
The reported priority this cycle is addressing the lack of Black female representation in the cast, which has been a live issue since Ego Nwodim left in 2025 after seven seasons.
That's a real gap and a fixable one, and the showcase lists suggest the search was conducted accordingly. Whether that translates into hires is a separate question — SNL screen tests a lot of people and hires a few.
Every year this process generates a shortlist, and every year roughly two or three names on it become people you'll be quoting in eighteen months. Worth screenshotting.
Nothing is confirmed. Casting decisions typically land close to the season premiere, which means September.