The documentary Lorne began streaming on Peacock on June 5, giving viewers a new way to watch the film after its April 17 theatrical release. The movie centers on Lorne Michaels’ early career in Canadian television, the first years of Saturday Night Live and his exit in the early 1980s before returning ahead of the 1985 season.
That timing matters for fans looking for the film now, especially as interest in Michaels and the show remains steady decades later. Chris Parnell, who was a cast member on SNL from 1998 to 2006, narrates the documentary, which also includes past cast members, writers and hosts, along with never-before-seen footage from episodes hosted by Timothée Chalamet, Kate McKinnon, Ayo Edebiri, Shane Gillis, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.
Peacock’s move widens access, but it does not come with a direct free trial on the service itself. Viewers can still watch Lorne through Peacock’s two plans that include the film, and subscribers who sign up through Prime Video can get seven days free. The documentary’s arrival also underscores how much of Michaels’ story is tied to the changing history of SNL itself, from its early experiments to the period when he stepped away and then came back to steer it again.
What remains unresolved is how long Peacock will keep Lorne on its platform. For now, the film is newly available, and the streaming window has opened just enough for viewers who missed the theatrical run to catch up while it is there.
