2025 Emmy Predictions: Are Voters Ready to Check Back into ‘The White Lotus’ and Clock into Lumon?
With both comedy and limited series categories out of the way, it’s time to dive into each drama category at the Emmys to see who could potentially receive nominations.
This year will be a huge three-way race between the third season of The White Lotus, the sophomore season of Severance, and the first of The Pitt. While many drama series came out in the eligibility window, these three shows will make up the bulk of the nominations when they’re announced next month. The White Lotus has been an Emmys favorite since its first season – way back when it was considered a limited series. The third outing of the show will receive no less love than any before it, particularly crowding the supporting actor and actress categories. It can be expected that there will be at least three slots filled in each of those just by performers in The White Lotus: Carrie Coon, Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Walton Goggins to name a few. Severance made waves with its second season that unfurled the world of Lumon further. Adam Scott and Britt Lower will see their way to nominations in their respective Lead categories, while supporting and guest performers will likely be well represented for Severance. The AppleTV+ hit also boasts some great examples of what could and likely will be nominated in the directing category.
Speaking of AppleTV+, between production delays and the dual strikes that hit the industry, only one series nominated last year has a chance of returning this year and that’s Slow Horses, while several have the chance to return after skipping a year (or two) like Severance, Yellowjackets and House of the Dragon.
The Pitt is the biggest show of the year so far and will likely see big numbers when the nominations are announced. Lead actor Noah Wyle will be the one to beat once nominations are announced, but he is guaranteed a spot in the five actors nominated. Taylor Dearden of The Pitt, notably the daughter of Emmy winner Bryan Cranston, will likely grab her first nomination this year for her tender and determined performance as Dr. Mel King on the ER drama. HBO/MAX will also be represented at the Emmys by the second season of The Last of Us, which is still submitting Pedro Pascal for Lead Actor despite his shortened involvement in the season. HBO also submitted Brian Cox in the same category for the final season of Succession after only appearing in a few episodes. The biggest underdog of the year going into the nominations is Matlock, the Kathy Bates CBS legal drama that will garner Bates a nomination this year. Can the smaller drama make its way into a crowded Emmy season?
Here’s the breakdown of how many submissions each category had and how many nominations there will be in that category:
Drama Lead Actor – 77 (5)
Drama Lead Actress – 75 (5)
Drama Supporting Actor – 233 (7)
Drama Supporting Actress – 225 (7)
Drama Guest Actor – 87 (6)
Drama Guest Actress – 67 (6)
Drama Directing – 173 (7)
Drama Writing – 132 (6)
Here are my predictions for nominations in series, acting, writing and directing for the Drama categories at the 2025 Emmys.
Outstanding Drama Series
Andor (Disney+)
The Diplomat (Netflix)
The Last of Us (HBO/MAX)
Matlock (CBS)
The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
Severance (AppleTV+)
Slow Horses (AppleTV+)
The White Lotus (HBO/MAX)
Other contenders: Yellowjackets (Showtime); Squid Game (Netflix); Interview with the Vampire (AMC+); House of the Dragon (HBO/MAX)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses (AppleTV+)
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us (HBO/MAX)
Eddie Redmayne, The Day of the Jackal (Peacock)
Adam Scott, Severance (AppleTV+)
Noah Wyle, The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
Other contenders: Sterling K. Brown, Paradise (Hulu); Diego Luna, Andor (Disney+); Billy Bob Thornton, Landman (Paramount+)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Kathy Bates, Matlock (CBS)
Britt Lower, Severance (AppleTV+)
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us (HBO/MAX)
Keri Russell, The Diplomat (Netflix)
Other contenders: Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets (Showtime); Kaitlin Olson, High Potential (ABC); Emma D’Arcy, House of the Dragon (HBO/MAX)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Patrick Ball, The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
Zach Cherry, Severance (AppleTV+)
Walton Goggins, The White Lotus (HBO/MAX)
Jason Isaacs, The White Lotus (HBO/MAX)
Sam Rockwell, The White Lotus (HBO/MAX)
Tramell Tillman, Severance (AppleTV+)
John Turturro, Severance (AppleTV+)
Other contenders: Patrick Schwarzenegger, The White Lotus (HBO/MAX); Sam Nivola, The White Lotus (HBO/MAX); Christopher Walken, Severance (AppleTV+); Jack Lowden, Slow Horses (AppleTV+)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Patricia Arquette, Severance (AppleTV+)
Carrie Coon, The White Lotus (HBO/MAX)
Taylor Dearden, The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
Allison Janney, The Diplomat (Netflix)
Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
Parker Posey, The White Lotus (HBO/MAX)
Natasha Rothwell, The White Lotus (HBO/MAX)
Other contenders: Aimee Lou Wood, The White Lotus (HBO/MAX); Dichen Lachman, Severance (AppleTV+); Isabel Mercred, The Last of Us (HBO/MAX); Fiona Dourif, The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
“Through the Valley” – The Last of Us (HBO/MAX)
“7:00 AM” – The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
“2:00 PM” – The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
“Cold Harbor” – Severance (AppleTV+)
“Hello Goodbye” – Slow Horses (AppleTV+)
“Full-Moon Party” – The White Lotus (HBO/MAX)
Other contenders: “Dreadnought” – The Diplomat (Netflix); “Welcome to the Rebellion” – Andor (Disney+); “Episode 1” – The Day of the Jackal (Peacock)
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
“Through the Valley” – The Last of Us (HBO/MAX)
“The Price” – The Last of Us (HBO/MAX)
“7:00 AM” – The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
“6:00 PM” – The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
“Chikhai Bardo” – Severance (AppleTV+)
“Cold Harbor” – Severance (AppleTV+)
“Amor Fati” – The White Lotus (HBO/MAX)
Other contenders: “O X” – Squid Game (Netflix); “The Queen Who Ever Was” – House of the Dragon (HBO/MAX); “Full Circle” – Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Beau Bridges – “Pregame,” Matlock (CBS)
Scott Glenn – “Killer Instincts,” The White Lotus (HBO/MAX)
Shawn Hatosy – “9:00 PM,” The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
Rhys Ifans – “Rhaenyra the Cruel,” House of the Dragon (HBO/MAX)
Ben Mendelsohn – “Who Else Knows?” Andor (Disney+)
Forest Whitaker – “I Have Friends Everywhere,” Andor (Disney+)
Other contenders: Paddy Considine – “Smallfolk,” House of the Dragon (HBO/MAX); Benjamin Bratt – “Welcome to the Rebellion,” Andor (Disney+)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Gwendolyn Christie – “Cold Harbor,” Severance (AppleTV+)
Sydney Cole Alexander – “Who Is Alive?” Severance (AppleTV+)
Kaitlyn Dever – “Through the Valley,” The Last of Us (HBO/MAX)
Catherine O’Hara – “Future Days,” The Last of Us (HBO/MAX)
Hillary Swank – “A Normal, Boring Life,” Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Merritt Wever – “Who Is Alive?” Severance (AppleTV+)
Other contenders: Jane Alexander – “Sweet Vitriol,” Severance (AppleTV+); Sandra Bernhard – “Cold Harbor,” Severance (AppleTV+)
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