Scarlett Johansson Reveals Colin Jost's "SNL" Return: 'He's Going Back to Work'

Colin Jost's Return to Saturday Night Live

The long-standing presence of Colin Jost on Saturday Night Live has been confirmed, bringing relief to fans amidst a wave of cast changes and speculation about further departures. Scarlett Johansson, who is promoting her directorial debut Eleanor the Great at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, shared that her husband will be back for season 51. "He's going back to work," she revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

Johansson did not confirm whether she would return for another round of jokes during the Weekend Update segment alongside Jost and co-anchor Michael Che, as she typically finds out last minute. "I think that's basically the MO over at 30 Rock is that everything is like moments before," she explained. "It's usually like Friday night before the Saturday show."

Jost and Che have become the longest-tenured duo on Weekend Update, with Jost holding the record for the most time as anchor since taking over in 2014 during the latter half of season 39. Before Che took over at the start of season 40, Cecily Strong co-anchored with Jost.

Jost is the fourth-longest-serving cast member in SNL's 50-year history, following Kenan Thompson (22 years), Darrell Hammond (14 years), and Seth Meyers (12 and a half years). This will be his 12th season on the cast, starting as a writer in 2005.

While Jost and Che will remain on the show, there are several other changes coming when SNL returns on October 4. Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow, and featured player Emil Wakim have all been confirmed as not returning. Additionally, three writers, including Weekend Update scribe Rosebud Baker, have announced their departures.

Five new cast members have been added: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska, and Ben Marshall from Please Don't Destroy.

Johansson expressed her hope that June Squibb, the leading lady in Eleanor the Great, could be a guest host this season. "Yes, 100 percent," she said when asked if she would campaign for Squibb. At 95 years old, Squibb would break the current record for the oldest SNL host, held by the late Betty White, who hosted at 88 in 2010.

Squibb is fully on board with the idea. "Oh yes, of course. I love that show. I watch it all the time," she said, revealing her background in comedy after performing cabaret in New York for about 10 years.

Johansson knows what makes a great SNL host, having hosted seven times so far, including the season 50 finale last May.

Johansson and Jost first met in 2006 when she hosted SNL for the first time and he was a writer. They began dating in 2017, got engaged in May 2019, and married the following year. The couple has one son together. Johansson also has a child with her ex-husband Romain Dauriac.

Eleanor the Great, which follows a 90-year-old woman rebuilding her life after the death of her best friend, is set to hit theaters on September 26.

Saturday Night Live season 51 premieres on Saturday, October 4 at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.