Dakota Johnson Returns to ‘SNL’ as a Bunny with Taylor Swift’s Surprise Cameo

Avatar photoHrvoje Milakovic
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Hosting ‘Saturday Night Live’ is a prestigious gig, and few actors get invited back often enough to become a three-time host. Dakota Johnson, known for her famously deadpan hosting style, has achieved this milestone. Her return to Studio 8H featured a surprise guest and one of the show’s most striking promo images in recent memory.

Johnson’s connection to the show dates back several years. She first hosted in 2015 to promote ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, then returned in January 2024 for ‘Madame Web’. She also made an appearance in Season 51 as “Madeline” during Lily Allen’s musical performance.

Cast member Ben Marshall has praised her previous hosting stints, particularly her collaborations with the comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy. He noted her ability to deliver sharp jokes, including roasting the cast, while still winning over the audience.

This week, the show teased her return with a black-and-white post simply captioned “Dakota Johnson!!!” alongside a bunny emoji. The 3-second clip features Johnson in black bunny ears, a strapless black bodysuit, and long black gloves, holding a cigarette. She leans against a stone ledge overlooking a city street, with a Gothic spire in the background.

The episode aired on October 3 as the second show of Season 52, featuring hardcore punk band Turnstile as the musical guest in their ‘SNL’ debut. Johnson was promoting her new thriller ‘Verity’.

In her opening monologue, Johnson humorously reflected on her dating history, joking about breaking up with two musicians since her last hosting gig: Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and singer-songwriter Role Model. She quipped that this has given her a unique relationship with music compared to other fans.

Taylor Swift made a cameo during the episode, slightly overshadowing Turnstile’s performance. The connection makes sense, as Johnson also appeared in Swift’s ‘Patient Zero’ music video.

Johnson took the stage in a skin-tight red dress, joking about her birthday. She mentioned she would celebrate at midnight by standing in midtown in a latex dress looking for attention. Her birthday is October 4, making her the sixth host in ‘SNL’ history to appear on the show on her birthday. She also joked about still promoting ‘Madame Web’ because the film hasn’t made much money yet.

The promo week was equally entertaining. Johnson collaborated with breakout star Ashley Padilla for a polished midweek sketch, and Ben Marshall joined her for promos that poked fun at Turnstile’s intense energy.

Johnson’s hosting appearance coincided with the October 2 release of ‘Verity’. This R-rated psychological thriller, directed by Michael Showalter and based on the Colleen Hoover novel, features Johnson alongside Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett as struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh, who is hired to complete a bestselling series after a mysterious accident leaves the author incapacitated.

Next on the ‘SNL’ stage is Shane Gillis, with musical guest Rosalía on October 10. Inde Navarrette will follow with Gracie Abrams as the musical guest. Meanwhile, Johnson is set to make her feature directorial debut with ‘A Tree Is Blue’.

For now, her third hosting stint, complete with bunny ears, showcases how comfortable she has become on that stage.

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