Casting Of 'SNL' Actor In Classic Christmas Movie Draws Twitter Reactions

"Saturday Night Live" cast member Pete Davidson will headline a table-read performance as the lead character George Bailey in "It’s a Wonderful Life." Famed actor Jimmy Stewart played Bailey in the 1946 Christmas classic.

The one-night-only live virtual table read of the script will be live-streamed on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m. ET. Proceeds go to a Los Angeles-based special needs charity.

“We are so thrilled to have Pete reenact the role of George in It’s a Wonderful Life with his talented wit and clever vocalizations. And we look forward to having Maude join the cast as Violet with her creative flair. Please join us for this once in a lifetime opportunity to snuggle up on your couch and experience this all-star cast virtual table read from the comfort of your own home, while helping to raise money for The Ed Asner Family Center. It will be a very meaningful night!” Matthew Asner, Co-Founder and President of The Ed Asner Family Center, told Deadline.

The table read will also feature 91-year-old actor Ed Asner, as well as Maude Apatow, Ellie Kemper, Carol Kane, Mia Farrow, Bill Pullman, Michael Shannon, Ed Begley Jr., B.D. Wong, Diedrich Bader and Richard Kind.

Apatow, 22, co-starred with Davidson in the recent film “The King of Staten Island.”

Ticket proceeds will go to Ed Asner’s charity which provides mental-health support to special-needs families. Early ticket prices range from $50 to $250.

“Autism and special needs touches all of us personally,” Navah Paskowitz-Asner, Co-Founder of The Ed Asner Family Center, told Deadline. “By gifting tickets to the table read, people are giving their friends and family that unique, once in a lifetime gift that everyone is searching for…an experience they can share together that will be unforgettable while helping scores of families living with special needs.”

Davidson, 27, revealed in September 2017 that he was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder.

Many on social media criticized the casting of Davidson.