Jack Black is busy preparing for his return to the Saturday Night Live stage.
“Just you know, having lots of nightmares and night terrors and also fond memories flooding back,” Black, 55, quipped to Variety on Sunday, March 30, of his preparation process. “It’s crazy, very exciting.”
Black is scheduled to host the NBC variety show for the first time in nearly 20 years on Saturday, April 5 — something he told the outlet feels “cray cray.” Elton John and Brandi Carlile are the musical guests.
Black told the outlet that he’s unsure of what his sketches will be. “You know what they’re thinking about right now? They are just all in a dead coma from last night’s show,” Black said of the show’s cast and writers. “Maybe some of them are thinking of some ideas, but I’m really thinking it’s one of those shows they put together in one week, that’s part of the excitement.”
Adam Sandler Breaks Character With Chris Rock in Surprise ‘SNL’ Cameo
Black gushed that he loves “all those kids” in the current Saturday Night Live cast, which includes names like Colin Jost, Chloe Fineman and Marcello Hernandez.
“I call them kids because I was on that show before some of them were born — except for Kenan [Thompson], we’re around the same age,” Black said. “That’s about it.”
The last time Black hosted was on December 17, 2005, while promoting King Kong. This go-round, Black will be promoting A Minecraft Movie. The film, based on the video game of the same name and directed by Jared Hess, hits theaters on Friday, April 4.
In A Minecraft Movie, expert crafter Black’s character Steve collaborates with misfits — Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks and Sebastian Hansen — who are pulled into the video game.
How the ‘Saturday Night’ Cast Compares to the ‘SNL’ Stars They’re Playing
“What the world needs now is love, sweet love,” Black told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on Sunday, referencing the 1965 hit track. “We’ve got to work together, my God. There’s so much violence and war and hatred. And that’s what I love about this movie — there’s a lot of love in it and there’s a lot of creativity. There is some anger and violence too, but in the end it’s about friendship and working together to make [the world] a better place.”
Black continued, “Jared is such a force of creativity and has such a unique perspective. And this cast was amazing, top to bottom. You’ve got Jason Momoa, worth the price of admission; Danielle Brooks, who is fantastic; Emma Myers, she’s fantastic. You’ve got this new kid [Hansen], who is a genius. But then wild card! You didn’t know you’re gonna get Jennifer Coolidge?”
