Overview

• Nwodim announced her departure on Friday in an Instagram statement thanking Lorne Michaels, cast, writers and crew.
• The decision reverses listings earlier this week that had her returning for Season 51.
• Her exit follows confirmed departures of Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow and Emil Wakim.
• Lorne Michaels added five performers — Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska and Ben Marshall — bringing the cast to 17.
• Key holdovers include Kenan Thompson, Chloe Fineman, Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Andrew Dismukes, Marcello Hernández, James Austin Johnson, and Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che, with the season debuting Oct. 4 on NBC and Peacock.