Steve Martin Reportedly Turned Down Offer From Lorne Michaels To Play Tim Walz On ‘SNL’

UPDATED: Social media almost got it wanted out of Steve Martin.

After chatter on Threads escalated, SNL boss Lorne Michaels on Aug. 7 ended up calling the Only Murders in the Building star about impersonating Tim Walz, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Sadly, the veteran comic and former SNL mainstay said no.

“I wanted to say no and, by the way, he wanted me to say no,” Martin told the LAT. “I said, ‘Lorne, I’m not an impressionist. You need someone who can really nail the guy.’ I was picked because I have gray hair and glasses.”

Martin added that such a commitment requires, well, a commitment to the NBC show. “It’s ongoing,” Martin continued with the LAT. “It’s not like you do it once and get applause and never do it again. Again, they need a real impressionist to do that. They’re gonna find somebody really, really good. I’d be struggling.”

PREVIOUSLY: After Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris named Tim Walz her running mate for the 2024 elections, social media called on Steve Martin to play the vice presidential hopeful this fall on Saturday Night Live.

The Only Murders In the Building actor is now weighing in on social media after he was collectively cast to parody Walz on the NBC sketch show.

“I just learned that Tim Walz wants to go on the road with Marty Short,” Martin posted on Threads after fans hoped he would play the Minnesota governor.

Post by @stevemartinreally

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CNN debated who should play Walz on SNL, citing Vanity Fair, which suggested Martin, Al Franken, Jim Gaffigan, and Jim O’Heir.

O’Heir took to social media to respond to suggestions that he should play Walz on the NBC late-night comedy show but had an issue with the photo they used of him on CNN.

“I don’t mind being in the mix,” O’Heir posted on X, the microblogging platform formerly known as Twitter. “But that’s the best pic of me that they could come up with? LOL.”

SNL has not shared who they are contemplating to play Walz when the show premieres this fall.

Deadline recently reported that Maya Rudolph would return to SNL to play Vice President Harris in the final stretch of the 2024 presidential race. Rudolph won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2020 for her portrayal of Harris.

SNL premieres its 50th season on September 28 on NBC.