Emmys Watch: Lead Actor in a Limited Series currently has no frontrunner
Sunday, June 27, 2021 at 10:32PM
Our team is breaking down the top contenders in all the major Emmy races and highlighting some of our favorites. Today, we’re looking at Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series
Ethan Hawke's performance as John Brown in "The Good Lord Bird" looks to win the star his first Emmy.
By: Christopher James
Heading into Emmy nominations for this particular category, we don’t have a single actor who has won a precursor. We’re in a race without a frontrunner! The past year of awards all went to Mark Ruffalo for I Know This Much Is True, who also won the Emmy. This makes the race all the more exciting. Will the Emmys award the star of a series nominated in many categories, or will they go for a big name actor in a series that doesn’t show up anywhere else. They went with the latter last year, as Ruffalo was the only nominee for I Know This Much is True.
Read on to see who might be in contention this year...
Hugh Grant has earned all the necessary precursors for his performance in "The Undoing" on HBO.
Proven Awards Players
So far, the only person with SAG, Critics Choice and Golden Globe nominations in this category is Hugh Grant for HBO’s The Undoing. The popular HBO mystery was received with more mixed opinions than other major limited series contenders. Yet, Grant has been going through a career renaissance, recently nominated for an Emmy for A Very English Scandal. That could’ve paved the way for him to win his first Emmy for his work as a duplicitous doctor who may or may not have murdered a woman.
His main competition is another awards favorite who has yet to win an Emmy. Ethan Hawke swings for the fences in the Civil War-era drama The Good Lord Bird, where he plays abolitionist John Brown. This would be Hawke’s first Emmy nomination, but he’s been a major player in the Oscars. His movie star status could help him win for the Showtime series, even if The Good Lord Bird doesn’t contend in other categories. This would be a similar path that Mark Ruffalo took to win last year.
The Emmys love few people more than Bryan Cranston. He has received 11 acting nominations and four Emmy wins over his long career, and it has been for more than just Breaking Bad. Since that legendary series ended, Cranston has also earned nominations for All The Way (where he played Lyndon B. Johnson) and Curb Your Enthusiasm (in the guest actor category). This signals that the Emmys are far from over their love affair so it could continue this year for Showtime’s Your Honor.
The other Showtime contender here is Jeff Daniels for The Comey Rule. The ripped-from-the-headlines approach worked well for The Loudest Voice last season, but that had a stronger precursor run. So far, Daniels has only received a Golden Globe nomination for his work as James Comey.
The Fargo anthology series has brought many actors Emmy nominations and wins. However, the fourth season of FX’s series failed to achieve the same level of buzz and viewership of previous seasons. Chris Rock earned a Critics Choice nomination for his work in the series, but it feels less likely that this will translate into a corresponding Emmy nomination.
If the Emmys embrace "WandaVision," will Paul Bettany also receive an acting nomination?Late Breaking Juggernauts
Marvel Studios has never managed acting nominations, but can that change this year? WandaVision has received the most buzz of any of Marvel’s TV offerings and this category is weaker than normal. This could leave room for Paul Bettany to break in for his performance as Vision in the show. However, the acting buzz for WandaVision is more concentrated on the female stars - Elizabeth Olsen and Kathryn Hahn.
Similarly, the acting buzz for The Underground Railroad has mostly gone to breakout female star Thuso Mbedu. Still, the weaker field could allow Joel Edgerton to get nominated for his work as the villainous bounty hunter.
The lead actor field tends to favor flashy performances of real-life figures. This could spell success for Ewan McGregor in Ryan Murphy’s latest miniseries for Netflix, Halston. McGregor certainly goes for it in his portrayal of the legendary clothing designer. Yet, the show was savaged by critics and Murphy’s Emmy success has been waning in recent years.
Other recent premieres that could result in an Emmy nomination are Andrew Scott for HBO’s Oslo and Ashley Thomas for Amazon Prime’s Them.
Jude Law is a dark horse contender as the star of "The Third Day."
Potential Underdogs
With little consensus in the field, there’s room for upsets. HBO has even more contenders, including Jude Law (The Third Day) and Olly Alexander (It’s a Sin). If voters look towards TV Movies, then Amazon Prime’s Uncle Frank could see its star Paul Bettany sneak into the category. Few topics are more relevant now than virus/plague/post-apocalyptic content. Paramount+’s The Stand didn’t make a huge splash when it first premiered. Yet, stars Alexander Skarsgard and James Marsden are on the ballot and could surprise, particularly former winner Skarsgard.
Will the TV vs. Movie vs. Play debate around "Hamilton" cost Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom, Jr. Emmy nominations?
The Hamilton of It All
Hamilton is not eligible for Outstanding TV Movie, but that won’t stop it from racking up Emmy nominations. Its stars have made it onto the acting ballots in the limited series/TV movie categories. Few pieces of media have been awarded as much as Hamilton. The challenge will not be getting voters to watch the groundbreaking show. It will be in reminding enough people that the cast is eligible. Both the Golden Globes and SAG Awards nominated Hamilton stars, but in different categories. If voters see Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom, Jr. on the ballot, my suspicion is that they will definitely add them. It helps that this field is much weaker than the actress category.
PREDICTIONS
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Ethan Hawke - The Good Lord Bird
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Hugh Grant - The Undoing
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Lin-Manuel Miranda - Hamilton
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Bryan Cranston - Your Honor
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Leslie Odom, Jr. - Hamilton
Who are you rooting for in the Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie category this year? What are your predictions?
more on the upcoming Emmys
- COMEDY
- Actress Comedy
- Actor Comedy
- Supporting Actress, Comedy
- Supporting Actor, Comedy
- DRAMA
- Actress Drama
- Actor Drama
- Supporting Actress, Drama
- Supporting Actor, Drama
- MORE...
- Emmy Ballots
- FYC The Handmaid's Tale
- FYC Kate Winslet and Mare of Easttown
- FYC Marielle Heller, Queen's Gambit
- FYC Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
- FYC I May Destroy You
- FYC Small Axe
- FYC For All Mankind
Reader Comments (22)
No guts, no glory.
I am going way out on a limb and predicting Nnamdi Asomughato will be on the final ballot. Asomugha, the producer and lead actor, of assured Outstanding TV Movie nominee, Sylvie’s Love, generates real heat as jazz musician Robert Halloway. Former NFL football icon and husband of Kerry Washington, Asomugha picked up an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his first serious acting role in Crown Heights. An Emmy nod for his underplayed performance in this period romance from Amazon could be an interesting surprise.
Please, nominate Paul Bettany!
Paul Bettany was SOOO good in UNCLE FRANK. His career really should be cruising along at a higher altitude than it is. I hope he gets the recognition he deserves for it, and more meaty roles in the future.
I think Marsden and Skarsgaard were good in The Stand miniseries, but it definitely like the only performance people came away from that show talking about was Owen Teague. One of the performances of the year, but the lack of buzz probably kills its chances.
The less said about Olly Alexander's performance the better.
I wasn't as big a fan of WandaVision as most, but Paul Bettany was excellent. Whilst the majority of the praise has understandably gone to Olsen, who has a lot more to do, Bettany really is excellent with some quite silly dialogue in the finale and I can see voters remembering him.
Paul Bettany for anything really.
I don’t think Hawke is any lock whatsoever though. His series reception was very muted.
Grant however may be looking for a win.
It's so strange to me that Grant will be cruising to a nomination and possible win since i legitimately think he's quite bad in THE UNDOING and I've often championed his work. I think he should have a few Oscar nods by now!
Paul Bettany and Ewan McGregor are definitely contenders as well.
Hawke really deserves this, but I've been worried he'll lose to Bettany, just because everyone watched that show (except me), and the comments here reflect the fact that my worry is not in vain.
If he loses, he'll be on the shortlist of actors who don't have an Emmy, Tony, or Oscar but have been nominated for all three (assuming he's nominated).
I didn't like Hawke at alll. Lots of shouting. I prefer Paul Bettany in Uncle Frank and the great Jeff Daniels in The Comey Rule.
I wish we could get Bettany for Uncle Frank, although I love him as Vision.
Gawd, I hope Ethan Hawke takes this, even though I haven't seen most of the other contenders. He was that good.
And yes, he shouts plenty, which seems about right for John Brown, but his best scene - his last meeting with "Onion," the night before his execution - is also his quietest.
Ewan McGregor certainly. The deservedly terrible reviews preserved him. And it's a biography, something that always pleases the awards as we know.
Not so sure about nominations for the Marvel/Disney comic book shows in the acting category. We'll see, we'll see.
I sense a lot of Hamilton coming.
I say the backlash from "In the Heights" drama will keep LMM out of this Emmy race. But sure, Leslie Odom, Jr. could get that afterglow nod post-Oscars.
My five:
Bryan Cranston
Jeff Daniels
Hugh Grant
Ethan Hawke (WINNER)
Leslie Odom, Jr.
John Boyega being in supporting benefits them all greatly.
I wish I could root for Ewan but I think he was miscast.
Boyega and Parkes are the leads in their episodes. They sould be listed here considering the competition. Huge mistake, Amazon.
And the Emmy goes to Paul Mescal.
I'm glad that I'm not the only one who was impressed with Owen Teague in The Stand. Hands down, it was the best performance in the series.
I feel like I'm the only person who watched (and enjoyed) "The Third Day", so I'd be pleasantly shocked if it gets remembered anywhere - Jude Law would be a deserving inclusion (as would Emily Watson, and others, but I digress).
If you haven't heard about the multi-hour middle-bridge live event that split the season in half, in which (among other things) Law spends long unbroken minutes standing on a platform above the water, digging a hole in the mud, sleeping, meditating, being tortured, walking in a torchlight processional, all in real-time in all manner of inhospitable English weather... it's WILD and worth exploring.
@ Gabe
You are not alone.
no frontrunner because Loki seems to be competing for next year... but I'd say Bettany's Vision really, really has a big shot at the nom, and maybe the win... everyone in WandaVision shows a good range...
Jesus Alonso: Loki is actually the first Marvel show that WILL be competing in Drama Series, not limited. They've already confirmed a Season 2 is happening. (WandaVision was always going to be a one and done and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier guys ultimately decided to continue it in movies, not subsequent seasons. But, considering what happened with the Marvel Netflix shows that started well past their first seasons...? Good call.)
HAMILTON is eligible for Emmys? That's ridiculous lol.