Comedian Steve Martin recently turned down a unique opportunity to play Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz on “Saturday Night Live,” despite the buzz on social media about the physical resemblance between the two. Martin, known for his role in “Only Murders in the Building,” shared that he received a call from the show’s legendary producer, Lorne Michaels, offering him the role. However, Martin, 78, decided to decline the offer.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Martin explained his decision. “I wanted to say no and, by the way, he wanted me to say no,” Martin said, adding that he doesn’t see himself as an impressionist. “I said, ‘Lorne, I’m not an impressionist. You need someone who can really nail the guy.’ I was picked because I have gray hair and glasses.” Martin humorously noted that taking on the role would have been a challenge he wasn’t eager to face, emphasizing that “SNL” needed a real impressionist to do justice to the part.

The idea of Martin playing Walz gained traction on social media after Kamala Harris announced the Minnesota governor as her running mate. The chatter only increased when it was revealed that “SNL” star Maya Rudolph would be returning to the show to reprise her popular portrayal of Harris. Rudolph had played Harris during the 2019 Democratic primaries and continued the role after Harris became Vice President, often appearing alongside Jim Carrey’s Joe Biden. To make time for this, Rudolph reportedly pushed back the production of the third season of her Apple TV+ series “Loot” to January.

You can’t blame Martin, he’s beloved by everyone. Why would you put your entire career at risk and jump into the political sphere? If he mocks Walz too hard imagine what the left would do to him.

As the new season of Saturday Night Live gears up for its September 28 premiere, the question of who will take on the role of Tim Walz remains open. Meanwhile, Walz has been under intense scrutiny since being named Harris’ VP pick. The Minnesota governor has faced criticism for his policies on abortion, his advocacy for gender-affirming surgeries for minors, and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the regulations he implemented in his state.

Adding to the controversy, Walz has been accused of embellishing his military service, a scandal that has only added fuel to the fire of his critics. His role in the events following George Floyd’s death in 2020, where Minneapolis saw widespread unrest, has also been a point of contention.