Two key cast will not be returning for the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live special, which debuts on February 16, is set to feature of the current cast alongside many iconic stars from throughout the show's history, including Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Kate McKinnon, Seth Meyers, Tracy Morgan, Eddie Murphy, Laraine Newman, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Adam Sandler, Molly Shannon, and Kristen Wiig.

According to a new report from Matthew Belloni's newsletter for Puck, two major cast will be bowing out of the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special. According to Belloni, Bill Hader's response to the invitation was a "polite decline." Belloni also reports that Dan Aykroyd's CAA agent has confirmed that he will not be present. Additionally, longtime producer Dick Ebersol, who was instrumental in the show's creation, will reportedly not be attending because of "health issues."

What This Means For The SNL 50th Anniversary Special

Dan Aykroyd's Absence Eliminates The Potential For A Major Reunion

With Dan Aykroyd absent from the 50th anniversary special, this means that there will not be a full reunion of the surviving "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" who appeared on the first episode of Saturday Night Live. Of the five surviving , Chevy Chase, Laraine Newman, Jane Curtin, and Garrett Morris are all set to appear. Previously, all five of them reunited on the 40th anniversary special, which aired on February 15, 2015.

Other of the original SNL season 1 cast include John Belushi (who died in 1982) and Gilda Radner (who died in 1989).

Although his absence has less historical importance, Bill Hader also leaves a notable hole in the roster. His tenure on Saturday Night Live lasted for eight years, between the beginning of season 31 in 2005 and the end of season 38 in 2013. Although he was present at the 40th anniversary special, the fact that he will reportedly not be returning continues his longest stretch of absence from the show since his original departure, as he has not appeared on a regular episode since a cameo during the season 44 episode hosted by John Mulaney in 2019.

Our Take On The SNL Absences

The 50th Anniversary Will Still Be Huge

In spite of the fact that this major reunion will not happen, the 50th anniversary special will be remarkably star-studded. In addition to featuring of the Saturday Night Live season 50 cast, which includes Kenan Thompson (who has had the longest tenure of any cast member with 22 seasons), the show will feature of the "Five-Timers Club" who have hosted the show a record number of times, including Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Woody Harrelson, Martin Short, and Scarlett Johansson. Other stars on the roster include Miley Cyrus, Pedro Pascal, Sabrina Carpenter, Kim Kardashian, Adam Driver, and Paul McCartney.

Source: Puck