The afterparty of Saturday Night Live‘s 50th anniversary was a night of glamour and excitement. However, for Andy Samberg, it was an evening that left him feeling “like a rag doll.” The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star recently opened up about his wild first encounter with Jason Momoa at the star-studded event.
Andy Samberg talks about his first meeting with Jason Momoa
Andy Samberg has spilt the beans about his unforgettably hilarious first meeting with Jason Momoa.
The 47-year-old recently opened up about meeting Momoa at the SNL 50th Anniversary Special afterparty. Speaking with PEOPLE on the set of his 2026 Super Bowl commercial, he recalled the encounter that sparked their upcoming movie, Protecting Jared.
“I had never met him and then last year at the SNL 50th after-party, I met him and he picked me up and swung me around in a circle like a rag doll,” Samberg said. “We hugged and laughed.”
Momoa’s sheer strength and energy left the Palm Springs actor stunned, with the encounter leaving a lasting impression on him. Samberg shared the story with his longtime friends and collaborators, writers Rob Klein and John Solomon. The duo’s script-making instincts kicked in, and they instantly saw potential in pairing him and Momoa onscreen.
“It’s going to be really fun. I’ve never done one exactly like this,” Samberg assured. “I think it’s going to be on a scale that I’m really excited about also. I think it’s going to be a really cool team.”
The plot of Protecting Jared is still shrouded in mystery. However, as per Production Weekly, the movie follows William Ikaika, a Hawaiian security guard, played by Jason Momoa. He’s forced to defend himself and Jared Bachman, a tech billionaire portrayed by Andy Samberg, when a kidnapping scheme goes haywire.
For the 2026 Super Bowl, Andy Samberg is starring in the popular mayonnaise brand Hellmann’s commercial. The ad, shot at Los Angeles’ iconic Canter’s Deli, features Samberg channeling Neil Diamond in a humorous mayonnaise-themed parody of a classic sing-along song.
