“The Penguin” was not forgotten. The HBO limited series debuted last September, but survived an onslaught of new competitors over the remaining eight months in the Emmy window to earn a whopping 24 nominations, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series (Cristin Milioti) or Movie and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie (Colin Farrell). While HBO topper Casey Bloys told The Playlist he’s “hopeful” for more seasons, the first installment was still classified as a limited series.
The critically acclaimed program also earned an Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Deirdre O’Connell), two nominations in the Outstanding Directing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Jennifer Getzinger and Helen Shaver), Outstanding Writing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Lauren LeFranc), Outstanding Cinematography For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (David Franco), Outstanding Casting For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, Outstanding Contemporary Costumes For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Helen Huang), Outstanding Picture Editing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Henk van Eeghen) and Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour Or More) (Kalina Ivanov).
This is Farrell’s first Emmy Award nomination. He won a SAG Award, a Golden Globe, and a Critics’ Choice Award for his performance. He was an Oscar nominee and won the Best Actor honor at the 2023 Venice Film Festival for “The Banshees of Inisherin.” He’ll be seen next opposite Margot Robbie in Kogonada’s “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” in September and alongside Tilda Swinton in Edward Berger’s “The Ballad of a Small Player,” expected to arrive on Netflix by year’s end.
Milioti is also a first-time Emmy nominee after starring in seminal television shows such as “The Sopranos,” “Fargo,” and “Black Mirror.” She won a Critics’ Choice Award for her role as Sofia Falcone and earned Golden Globe, SAG Awards, Independent Spirit Award, and Gotham TV Awards nominations. She was just seen in the “Black Mirror” episode “USS Callister: Into Infinity” and has a key role in the upcoming Netflix animated movie “In Your Dreams,” dropping in November.
“The Penguin” is available to stream on HBO Max.
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ on September 14 at 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET.
For The Playlist’s complete coverage of the 2025 Emmy Awards, click here.
Editor-at-Large Gregory Ellwood is one of Hollywood's most respected awards journalists, covering the Oscars and Emmys beat with the access and institutional knowledge that comes from decades reporting at the center of the industry. Based in West Hollywood, he has written for the LA Times, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, HitFix, and Vox, among others.
