New York ? Will Forte is leaving “Saturday Night Live” after eight seasons.

Forte’s publicist Lewis Kay said Thursday that Forte is moving on from “SNL” “to pursue other opportunities.”

NBC declined to comment.

Kay said Forte was “eternally grateful” to producer Lorne Michaels and to “all the incredible people he worked with over the years.”

Forte’s exit from the show was first reported by The New York Times on its website.

The 40-year-old Forte starred in and co-wrote the “SNL” spinoff film “MacGruber,” which was released in May.