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Inde Navarrette Steps Out for ‘SNL’ Dinner Ahead of Her Halloween Hosting Debut

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Few actors have had a 2026 quite like Inde Navarrette. The 25-year-old star went from streaming video games on Twitch while waiting for her next acting job to anchoring one of the biggest horror phenomena in recent memory, and now she’s preparing for her biggest live stage yet as host of ‘Saturday Night Live’.

Her breakout came with ‘Obsession’, Curry Barker’s romance-horror film made in just 20 days on a tiny budget. The movie went on to gross $523 million worldwide, ranking as the fifth highest-grossing horror film of all time and making Navarrette’s Nikki Freeman a new horror icon.

With just days to go before her debut, Navarrette was spotted arriving at Lattanzi Cucina Italiana in New York for an ‘SNL’ dinner, according to photos shared by Page Six. The ‘Obsession’ star was all smiles as she made her way inside, bundled up in a long black coat, wide-leg jeans, and glasses, with her dark hair pulled back.

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The outing comes as she gears up to host the Halloween night episode on October 31. It will be Navarrette’s ‘SNL’ debut, and fittingly, the first time in 6 years that the show has aired live on Halloween. Joining Navarrette in Studio 8H will be Gracie Abrams, who returns as a musical guest for her second time. The episode airs live at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and streams on Peacock.

Navarrette’s episode is the fourth of Season 52, which kicked off on September 26 with host Jalen Brunson before Dakota Johnson and Shane Gillis took the stage. After the Halloween show, Druski hosts on November 7, followed by John Mulaney’s seventh hosting gig on November 14.

Navarrette has been charmingly humble about the opportunity. Speaking with Variety on the red carpet at the Academy Museum Gala, she joked that she feels like she snuck in, and said she’s excited to keep everything under wraps to make the show fun for audiences.

She added that she loves not knowing what’s coming in advance and is looking forward to working with the show’s writers. Fans have been thrilled, with many calling a Halloween episode hosted by a horror breakout perfect casting.

It’s easy to see why ‘SNL’ wanted her for the spookiest night of the year. ‘Obsession’ follows Bear, played by Michael Johnston, a socially awkward music store employee in love with his co-worker Nikki, and the film became a sleeper sensation after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025.

Made for under $1 million and acquired by Focus Features for more than $15 million, the film opened to $17.2 million and earned a rare A- CinemaScore for a horror movie. It went on to become Focus Features’ highest-grossing film ever and the highest-grossing film made for under $1 million.

Navarrette’s performance has been central to that success. Barker has recalled that her very first take of Nikki’s emotional breakdown scene convinced the team they had found the right actress, while Navarrette admitted she thought she had bombed her audition.

Her momentum doesn’t stop at ‘SNL’. Navarrette is set to play Rogue in the MCU’s upcoming ‘X-Men’ film, and she has already filmed a lead role in the horror movie ‘Invertigo’.

Focus Features has also launched an awards campaign for her ‘Obsession’ performance this fall. With a Marvel role on the horizon and awards buzz building, her Halloween hosting gig could be the start of an even bigger chapter.

What are you most excited to see when Inde Navarrette hosts SNL on Halloween?

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