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Lorne Michaels documentary skips Pete Davidson despite strong SNL connection
The project features multiple high-profile 'Saturday Night Live' alumni
Saturday Night Live alum Pete Davidson does not appear in the new documentary about legendary producer Lorne Michaels due to scheduling constraints and an already crowded list of contributors, according to the film’s director.
Documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville said the omission was not personal, explaining that the project featured so many notable voices from the long-running sketch series that there was simply no room to include everyone.
“I interviewed so many people for the film… it just felt like it was full,” Neville said, noting that the production already included major SNL alumni such as Mike Myers, Chris Rock, Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig, among others.
Neville added that narrowing the focus of the film was one of the biggest challenges, given the sheer number of comedians and performers with stories about Michaels and the show.
“There are so many people who have stories,” he said, describing the process as an “embarrassment of riches” in terms of available interviews.
The director said the central aim of the documentary was to capture Michaels’ influence and creative legacy, rather than expand into the broader history of the show’s many former cast members.
“I was just trying to distill his essence into a film,” Neville explained, adding that many individual anecdotes, while compelling, ultimately drifted away from the core subject.
Davidson, who was part of the Saturday Night Live cast from 2014 to 2022, has often spoken about his close relationship with Michaels, describing him as a mentor-like figure in his career.
Despite not appearing in the documentary, Davidson has made clear he remains grateful for his time on the show.
In past interviews, he said he would return if asked and credited Michaels with launching his career.
“I owe that guy my life,” he previously said, adding that he would “do anything for Lorne.”
Davidson briefly returned to host SNL after leaving the cast, reinforcing his continued connection to the long-running NBC series.
