Kenan Thompson May Leave Saturday Night Live, Has New Comedy Series in Development

A castmember since 2003, Thompson has teamed up with SNL boss Lorne Michaels for new show

By Jenna Mullins Nov 20, 2012 7:20 PMTags
Kenan ThompsonNBC/Mary Ellen Matthews

Is Saturday Night Live losing another veteran castmember?

Kenan Thompson, who has been with the NBC staple series since 2003, is teaming up with Lorne Michaels to write, executive producer and star in a comedy series, a source confirms to E! News.

Those duties would surely take him away from the rigorous schedule of SNL, but the insider tells us that while Thompson and Lorne's script has been picked up, no other plans have been made regarding his departure.

 The comedy series in development, which is untitled at the moment, will have Thompson playing a guy who leaves New York City to move in with his in-law's in the suburbs.

Thompson would end a 10-year run on SNL if he excited, leaving behind such memorable sketches as "What's Up With That?", and his impersonations of Rev. Al Sharpton, Whoopi Goldberg and Charles Barkley. Other SNL vets who have recently exited the show for other projects include Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg, and it's rumored that Jason Sudekis is on his way out come the new year.

Now that Kenan is possibly free of SNL, someone get Kel Mitchell on the phone.

(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)