Kate McKinnon Is a Movie Star at Last

Kate McKinnon has finally landed the leading role in a film.

The “Saturday Night Live” star is making the step up from supporting parts to head the cast of  a comedy called “The Lunch Witch.”

She’ll play a witch named Grunhilda in the picture from Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, which is based on Deb Lucke’s YA novel of the same name, as reported by Deadline. “Angry Birds” director Clay Kaytis will helm the project in his live-action directorial debut.

The story follows witch Grunhilda, who inherits her famous ancestors’ recipes and cauldron. However, she’s unable to continue her family’s tradition of stirring up trouble because people no longer believe in magic.

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With a skill set consisting almost solely of the ability to cook up foul brews, Grunhilda decides that she’s uniquely qualified for the position of a school lunch lady. And while she initially revels in scaring the children at her school, a chance encounter with a timid, little girl will see the witch making a friend and having to decide if she wants to be a good witch or a bad one.

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Kate, who joined “Saturday Night Live” in 2012,  impressed with her comical portrayals on the show of stars such as Justin Bieber and Ellen DeGeneres but shot to international attention with her wildly popular work playing Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election campaign.

Earlier this year she had a memorable supporting role as Jillian Holtzmann in Paul Feig’s reimagining of “Ghostbusters,” starring alongside Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, and “SNL” co-star Leslie Jones. She gets another supporting part in Dec. 9 release “Office Christmas Party,” which stars Jennifer Aniston.

But “The Lunch Witch” is her first leading role on the big screen and her fans will feel it’s about time coming.

If “The Lunch Witch” does well, perhaps Kate will take her leave from the Saturday night variety show, following in the footsteps of other “SNL” alums. Kristen, Jason Sudeikis, Tina Fey, and Steve Martin are just a few of the the show’s successful cast members who have moved on to careers in movies.