Leslie Jones Will Not Return To ‘SNL’

Many talented individuals have joined the Saturday Night Live family throughout the years, and actress Leslie Jones sits among them. Jones has also begun enjoying a Hollywood career, starring in films like 2014’s Top Five and the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot. After a five-year tenure on SNL, Jones has elected to focus on her film career and will not return for the late night program’s upcoming season.

Since her first appearance on the SNL stage back in 2014, she’s been nominated for three Emmy Awards; in 2017 and 2018 she was nominated in the Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category, while this year her nomination came in the Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics category for her role in “The Upper East Side.” Some of her most poignant appearances throughout her SNL run were on the Weekend Update segments, where she would frequently discuss current events or flirt with anchor Colin Jost.

Currently, Jones is slated to star alongside Chris Rock in I Am Maurice, a boxing drama that will recount the story of its namesake Haitian immigrant boxer. Jones will also appear in another indie film called Queenpins, where she will collaborate with Kristen Bell, and Jones also signed on for a role in director Craig Brewer‘s Coming 2 America. Jones’ latest film appearance occurred in this year’s The Angry Birds Movie 2, where she voiced the villainous Zeta. In addition to her cinematic pursuits, Jones will headline a comedy special for Netflix and will serve as an executive producer for a Supermarket Sweep relaunch.

Season 48 of SNL will begin on Sept. 28. Kenan Thompson, who is presently the show’s longest-tenured cast member, will return for it, as will Kate McKinnon. SNL alumni Eddie Murphy is scheduled to host the program on Dec. 21, his first time doing so in 35 years.