TMZ reported that comedian Kenan Thompson might leave "Saturday Night Live" after season 40.

Allegedly, Thompson wanted to exit from the show after season 39, but creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels asked him to stay, especially since the series was experiencing a high turnover rate. Thompson agreed and is said to harbor no feelings towards Michaels or the show.

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Thompson is said to have already landed a new show which he will be starring in after his long stint with SNL. The actor is planning to move to Los Angeles after he leaves the comedy series.

Aside from acting, the comedian also has other plans which includes working behind the camera. "I want to get into producing and writing more for myself - setting up my own films and seeing what kind of personal touch I can put on movies, as opposed to just being in them," he once shared.

However, a spokesperson for SNL stated that it is too early to conclude who might continue on with the cast in season 41. According to the rep, "the season hasn't even started and cast decisions aren't made until the end of the season." 

If Thompson does decide to leave the show, the announcement of his exit will then more likely be announced towards the end of season 40.

Thompson has been with "Saturday Night Live" since 2003 and has been its longest-serving black cast member. The comedian is the longest-serving in the current cast and, is also the third longest-serving cast member ever, following Seth Meyers and Darell Hammond who comes in second and first respectively.

The comedian has been in the show so long that he was once joked in an interview with "Entertainment Weekly", "I'm never leaving."

"Saturday Night Live" returns for the 40th season this coming weekend with Chris Pratt as host and Ariana Grande as the musical act.

Darrell Hammond will now serve as the show's announcer, replacing Don Pardo who passed away last August.