SNL Departures: More cast members to Depart 'Saturday Night Live'

More big changes are coming to NBC's "Saturday Night Live." 

USA TODAY has heard that the cast members Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseor, and Aristotle Athari won't be returning to the long-running sketch comedy series this autumn as it enters its 48th season.

Three months Before in May Aidy Bryant,  Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, and Kyle Mooney announced their departure during the Season 47 finale.

The changes were made by executive producer Lorne Michaels, who is currently casting this week's episode's new cast members. 

The new cast members will appear on the show when it returns in early October.

Moffat joined "SNL" in 2016 as a featured performer and was elevated to main cast member in 2018.

Villaseor, who was remembered for his memorable impersonations of celebrities like Lady Gaga and Dolly Parton, was also elevated to a regular player in 2018 after two years on the programme.

Following Michaels' return to the show after a five-year sabbatical, nearly the whole cast was replaced,

 including Billy Crystal and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, in what is thought to be the biggest cast shakeup since 1985.