‘X-Men’ Reboot Star Inde Navarrette Lands Her First SNL Hosting Gig for a Halloween Episode

Inde Navarrette is about to add a very big credit to an already impressive 2026. The actress has been gaining attention quickly this year, and now she is getting the chance to step into one of television’s most famous comedy shows. NBC has announced that Navarrette will host Saturday Night Live for its Halloween episode on October 31, with singer Gracie Abrams joining her as the musical guest.

For Navarrette, the timing could hardly be better. Her rise has been closely connected to the success of the horror movie Obsession, where she played Nikki Freeman. The film first appeared at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 before arriving in U.S. theaters through Focus Features in May. According to the box office figures included in the report, Obsession has now made more than $500 million worldwide, helping turn Navarrette into one of the more talked-about young stars of the year.

That success has also opened some major doors for the actress. She is set to play Rogue in the upcoming X-Men movie and has another big project lined up with Apple Studios. She will appear in the science-fiction thriller The Waffle House Index, giving her plenty to look forward to even beyond her SNL debut. Before Obsession changed the speed of her career, Navarrette had already been building experience through television and film, including Superman & Lois and the 2025 action movie Trap House.

Her SNL booking also puts her in the middle of a pretty busy start to Season 52. NBC has already announced a mix of actors, athletes and musicians for the first few episodes. New York Knicks captain Jalen Brunson is set to host the September 26 premiere with KATSEYE performing. Dakota Johnson returns for her third hosting appearance on October 3, while Turnstile will serve as musical guest. Shane Gillis will then return for his third hosting job on October 10, with Rosalía performing.

Navarrette’s Halloween episode stands out for an obvious reason. Her biggest role so far came in a horror movie, so having her host the show on October 31 feels like a fun match. It gives SNL plenty of room to play with horror jokes, Halloween sketches and the kind of strange characters that can make the holiday episode memorable. Abrams also brings some extra excitement to the night, especially after releasing her third studio album, Daughter From Hell, in July.

The booking comes during an important period for SNL itself. Following its 51st season, the series reached 360 Emmy nominations and 114 wins, keeping its place as the most Emmy-nominated show in television history. Season 52 is also beginning with some changes to the cast. Chloe Fineman has left after seven seasons, while Martin Herlihy has also departed after working both as a performer with Please Don’t Destroy and as part of the writing team.

For Navarrette, however, the focus will likely be much simpler when she walks onto the Studio 8H stage. She will be taking on a job that can be intimidating even for established stars, especially because SNL requires hosts to handle live comedy, sketches and plenty of unexpected moments. Getting the opportunity this early in her breakout year says a lot about the attention surrounding her right now.

NBC’s announcement gives fans plenty of time to see how the night comes together, although more details about the episode and the rest of the Season 52 lineup are expected before the premiere. With Navarrette hosting and Abrams performing, the Halloween episode already has a strong combination of rising movie talent and pop music.

After spending years building her career through smaller roles, Navarrette now has a much bigger stage waiting for her. Her SNL debut will be another test of just how far her sudden rise can take her, and Halloween could make it one of the most interesting episodes of the season.