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So … What Will the 2025 Emmys Look Like?

Aug 31, 2024

As a long-time admirer of the captivating world of television, I find myself eagerly anticipating the Emmy nominations this year. With such a rich tapestry of limited series unfurling before our eyes, it’s akin to being a kid in a candy store, albeit one with discerning taste and an ever-growing list of shows clamoring for my attention.

Every year, regardless of whether it’s the Oscars or the Emmys, we find ourselves discussing and anticipating the same group of nominated shows. As the awards season progresses, we can’t help but yearn for fresh content to emerge. The Emmy season, in particular, tends to foster this desire since shows vying for recognition in future years often air during the current year’s award campaign. For instance, a show like The Bear, even while its previous season is being considered for TV Academy honors, consistently premieres a new season.

2024’s Emmy nominees are casting a shadow over the upcoming ceremony not due to the nominated series, but because of those that didn’t make the cut. We’ve discussed how this year’s Outstanding Drama list was influenced just as much by shows that were ineligible (since they hadn’t aired new episodes; such as HBO productions like “House of the Dragon,” “The Last of Us,” and “White Lotus”) as those that were. As we look forward to next year, many of these shows will make their comeback, potentially overwhelming the competition with their Emmy track records and devoted fan bases.

The 2025 Emmy nomination period started on June 1, 2024, and lasts until May 31, 2025. In the main categories – Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Comedy Series, and Outstanding Limited Series – there are several series that seem worthy of recognition. These include shows that have debuted this summer, series from previous years that are being discussed for the 2024 Emmys and plan to come back in 2025, and powerhouses that didn’t participate in the 2024 awards but will likely make a comeback. For now, we’re not considering brand-new shows that haven’t premiered yet as they’re still uncertain. However, keep an eye out for the upcoming Dune series, it might be a contender. To make sense of this all, here’s our attempt at prediction.

Outstanding Drama Series

Shows That Already Aired

In the world of television, I find myself deeply immersed in the recently concluded second season of “House of the Dragon.” This series was a Drama Series nominee in 2023, but there was a noticeable sense of disappointment among viewers, including me, after the season finale. Critics such as Kathryn VanArendonk from Vulture have expressed this sentiment, stating that the season ends with a whimper instead of a bang. The series seems to be struggling under the weight of its franchise origins, losing some of its initial adventure and drama.

The success of series such as “Slow Horses”, “The Morning Show”, and “The Gilded Age” being nominated for Drama Series this year is certainly uplifting for shows like “Interview With the Vampire” and “Industry”. Both have gained widespread appeal beyond their initial genre or niche audiences. They both boast strong support from media outlets who consider them among the best TV shows currently airing. “Interview” may become a focus for AMC, but if “Industry” is one of HBO’s main Emmy contenders at the end of the season, it could suggest that some of their other high-profile shows didn’t perform as well as expected.

Apple TV+’s “Presumed Innocent” has been given a green light for another season, surprising many as it initially appeared to be a one-off storyline. However, Apple suggests that the upcoming season will tackle an entirely new case, potentially keeping this series within the realm of Limited Series. But keep in mind, if there are connections between the seasons, post-“White Lotus” Emmy rules may place the show under Drama category.

This week marks the debut of the second season for Amazon Prime Video’s “Rings of Power” and, starting early next month, the fourth and concluding season for HBO’s “My Brilliant Friend”. However, these shows have yet to gain significant recognition from Emmy voters. To secure a place alongside “The Interview” and “Industry”, they would need an impressive surge in viewership or buzz among audiences.

2024 Nominees That Should Be Back

In a short while, the fourth season of “Slow Horses” will air, having successfully caught the eye of Academy voters this year. On the other hand, “The Morning Show” and “The Gilded Age” are currently making waves by constantly announcing high-profile guest stars, causing a stir on social media and team communication platforms like Slack. It’s unclear if either will debut in time for next year’s competition, but if they do, and if the voters who nominated these shows continue to be captivated by their star-studded, soap opera-like approach to television drama, both could potentially reenter the Emmy race.

All three shows – Fallout, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Shogun – have been given the green light for another season, but at this point, it is not expected that they will air again until May of the following year.

Returning From Hiatus

2022 is shaping up to be an exciting year for drama enthusiasts, as no less than six past Outstanding Drama nominees are set to debut their new seasons! Among them is the much-anticipated comeback of Squid Game. The show made a big splash during the 2022 Emmys, with 14 nominations and 6 wins, suggesting that the voting body was swept up in the fervor of its rapid popularity. Premiering on Netflix just three years ago, the South Korean dystopian drama quickly captured the hearts of viewers worldwide. As we await the next chapter, the question remains: will it retain the same level of impact?

The show “Severance,” which earned 14 Emmy nominations (but only won two) in 2022, finds itself in a similar predicament. With its second season set to premiere in January, it will have been approximately 33 months since its last episode aired. The production challenges frequently mentioned in the media have undoubtedly contributed to this delay, adding extra weight to the new season’s success. However, if “Severance” manages to keep audiences captivated with another intriguing sci-fi mystery after such a long hiatus, it’s likely to reappear in Emmy contention once more.

If the fifth season of “Stranger Things” on Netflix airs at some point in 2025, another popular series from the streaming platform is expected to return after a three-year hiatus. Previously, the last two seasons were released over two summer holiday weekends – Memorial Day and July Fourth. If this pattern continues, it’s possible that the show could be available for viewing in either 2025 or 2026.

Yellowjackets didn’t release any fresh episodes in 2024 because of strikes, however, Showtime launched the first two seasons in January and May respectively. Based on this information, I would speculate that season three might air as early as January next year. Keep in mind, this is just a guess from my side.

As a devoted fan, I was looking forward to the second season of Disney+’s “Andor,” which was originally slated for an August 2024 debut according to creator Tony Gilroy. Unfortunately, the writers’ strike has caused a delay in production, potentially pushing the release back to August 2025. If this is the case, it means that “Andor” would miss the Emmy eligibility window for 2025, with submissions for consideration not happening until 2026.

Furthermore, it’s worth noting that HBO had a relatively quiet showing at this year’s Emmy Awards. A significant factor contributing to this was the absence of two highly-nominated shows from the previous year, namely “The Last of Us” and “The White Lotus.” Given that a trailer for “The Last of Us” has already been released, we can anticipate that its new season may not be too distant; considering the first season premiered in January, it seems reasonable to expect early 2025 as a potential release date.

It’s likely that HBO will avoid scheduling air dates for its major dramas at the same time, so it seems reasonable to expect that The White Lotus could debut its third season in late spring, making it eligible for Emmy nominations. However, this is just speculation as nothing has been confirmed yet. The upcoming season, set in Thailand, brings back Natasha Rothwell’s character Belinda from the first season, and introduces a fresh group of actors including Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Parker Posey, Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, and Scott Glenn – potential nominees for the 2024 Emmys.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Shows That Already Aired

In keeping with its tradition, the show titled “The Bear” unveiled its fresh season simultaneously when Emmy nominations were announced for its prior season. However, this period also sparked debates such as “Is The Bear Actually a Comedy?” and “Was Season 3 of The Bear a Disappointment?”, which added fuel to the fire. Whether these discussions will influence voters remains uncertain. Notably, if FX had dared to categorize “The Bear” as a drama for Emmys (a speculation in media so far), this would have been the opportune moment, given the scarcity of strong contenders in the drama categories. However, a shift to the Drama category next year would be illogical given the intense competition that lies ahead.

This week saw the debut of the first episode for the fourth season of the popular series “Only Murders in the Building,” and if it maintains its current quality over the remaining three episodes, it’s quite likely to be a strong contender for next year’s awards. As for summer comedies, Apple TV+’s “Bad Monkey” seems tailor-made to catch the attention of Emmy voters. With Bill Lawrence at the helm as producer and Vince Vaughn in the spotlight for a career comeback, it has all the right ingredients.

2024 Nominees That Should Be Back

It’s looking likely that we can already predict a nomination for Abbott Elementary. What We Do in the Shadows is set to air its sixth and concluding season in October’s late days. Hacks, being one of the last significant Emmy competitors, premiered within the 2024 eligibility window, so we can expect another premiere in May 2025.

After that, there’s “Palm Royale,” which was given another chance for a second series, but the exact timeline remains unclear. It seemed like “Palm Royale” managed to sneak into the Comedy Series category as one of the final contenders, possibly the seventh or eighth show. Whether this is accurate or not, it will be intriguing to find out if a second season can hold its ground against any potential new competitors.

Returning From Hiatus

2023’s Netflix comedy series nominee, “Wednesday,” was noticeably absent from the 2024 award season. Despite their aggressive promotions for “The Gentlemen” this year (a show yet to begin filming in 2023), they received only one nomination. With this outcome, Netflix might choose to redirect its comedy focus towards Jenna Ortega and her enigmatic character in “Wednesday.” This decision could be strengthened if the upcoming “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” proves to be a success this autumn, boosting producer Tim Burton and Ortega’s influence for another season of “Wednesday.”

Outstanding Limited Series

In essence, predicting the nominees for Limited Series this early is tricky since past nominations can’t be relied upon. However, this also means that each limited series can be evaluated based on its individual merits, without worrying about whether voters might favor familiar shows over new ones. This season, Apple TV+’s “Lady in the Lake” stands out as a compelling thriller with high potential among voters. Despite Apple’s abundance of talented actors potentially overwhelming critics and viewers (Colin Farrell being an example), Natalie Portman’s performance in “Mare of Easttown,” even on a less buzzworthy show, seems likely to make it into the nomination mix.

Initially, The Acolyte, a series created by Leslye Headland, was intended to vie for Drama awards. However, Disney decided to cancel it after just one season, making it a likely one-hit wonder. While fans may argue that The Acolyte could potentially secure nominations in the Limited Series category, this might not make a difference if Disney+ doesn’t actively promote it. This could be a challenge, considering that new franchise shows are set to debut on the platform in the coming months. Notably, Marvel’s Agatha All Along and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew will be released alongside HBO’s The Penguin, which premieres on September 19, creating a strong competition in the superhero genre.

With no previous nominees to examine in the Limited Series category, let’s take a purely speculative glance at upcoming productions. Netflix’s “The Perfect Couple,” set to premiere on September 5, boasts an illustrious cast led by Nicole Kidman. While her television appearances have become more common than surprising, she graced two shows last year – “Special Ops: Lioness” and “Expats” – neither of which earned her a nomination. However, given her exceptional talent, she’s always worth considering for any project she undertakes.

Alfonso Cuaron’s film titled “Disclaimer” featuring Cate Blanchett is garnering attention at various festivals this month before its October 11 release on Apple TV+, lending an air of distinction to the production. However, it is worth mentioning that last year’s show “Expats” also made its way through the festival circuit during the same season, and it has been cited as a contrast to Emmy nominations in two consecutive paragraphs.

Regarding high-status productions, it’s worth mentioning “The Agency,” a limited series on Paramount+ in collaboration with Showtime. This series is created by George Clooney and Grant Heslov, and features an impressive cast including Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Richard Gere, Jodie Turner-Smith, Katherine Waterston, and John Magaro. If viewers can manage to watch both Paramount+ and Showtime, “The Agency” could become a significant competitor.

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2024-08-31 16:54