Blessed be the Emmys rulebook, however it wants some severe updating.
Though “The Handmaid’s Story” has taken its closing bow, Hulu has confirmed its official Emmy submissions for the critically acclaimed drama, with one entry particularly already inflicting waves.
Selection has discovered completely that the streamer has submitted Alexis Bledel within the visitor drama actress class for her look within the collection finale (“610 – The Handmaid’s Story”), regardless of a newly enforced Emmy rule disqualifying actors who’ve been beforehand nominated in a lead or supporting class for a similar present. Bledel, who gained the Emmy for visitor in 2017, and garnered two extra noms in the identical class in 2020 and 2021. Nevertheless, in 2018, after showing in seven of the 13 episodes, she was ineligible to compete as a visitor; she was submitted and ultimately nominated for supporting drama actress. The one-year recognition for her character, Ofglen, seems to fall outdoors the bounds of eligibility, however the streamer is hopeful the TV Academy will take into account her circumstances.
Insiders say Hulu expects the TV Academy to reclassify Bledel’s submission to supporting drama actress earlier than ballots are opened on June 12, however as of now, no resolution has been issued.
The rule goals to make clear what defines a “visitor” star. In response to the brand new pointers, any actor beforehand nominated in a lead or supporting position for a collection can not be thought of a visitor, no matter how briefly they seem within the collection.
The coverage has already drawn industry-wide criticism and confusion. Meryl Streep, for example, was dominated ineligible for visitor consideration for her flip in Hulu’s “Solely Murders within the Constructing” — regardless of showing in simply 4 episodes — and can as an alternative compete within the supporting comedy actress class as a consequence of her earlier nom. In the meantime, Paul Rudd, enjoying a brand new character in the identical collection, was practically eligible as a visitor however was in a single episode too many, exposing inconsistencies with the adjustments.
Nonetheless, the rules create extra ambiguity than readability. There ought to be a basic distinction between a significant collection lead trying to go visitor and a long-time supporting participant who has solely often appeared.
Trade voices argue that the change unfairly penalizes performers with restricted display screen time who’ve beforehand been acknowledged — particularly when these appearances are few and much between. Some consider this rising backlash will immediate the Emmys to contemplate revisions forward of future cycles.
Regardless of the rule battle, “The Handmaid’s Story” nonetheless stays a formidable drive on this 12 months’s Emmy race. The drama, which concluded its six-season run on Monday, has garnered 76 nominations and 15 wins over its lifetime — together with a historic excellent drama collection win in its first season, the primary ever for a streaming platform.
This 12 months, Hulu submitted 36 entries for the present throughout each Primetime and Artistic Arts classes. Notable appearing entries embrace Elisabeth Moss for lead actress and for helming the penultimate episode, “Execution,” which is considerably shocking contemplating long-running reveals typically reserve their closing episodes for consideration. Nevertheless, the episode that sees many favourite characters’ stunning deaths is extra visually placing, partnered with June screaming, “Don’t let the bastards grind you down” as she’s being hanged.
As well as, Bradley Whitford, Max Minghella, and O-T Fagbenle will vie within the supporting actor race, whereas Yvonne Strahovski, Samira Wiley, and Ann Dowd will search love in supporting actress. Visitor actress submissions past Bledel embrace Emmy winners Cherry Jones (episode 602) and D’Arcy Carden (episode 608).
Hulu’s full 2025 Emmy submission checklist for “The Handmaid’s Story” contains:
“I’m attempting to do my half — to take the baton, run so far as I can with it, and hand it off to the following.”
Selection Awards Circuit:
- Excellent Drama Collection: Bruce Miller, Eric Tuchman, Yahlin Chang, Warren Littlefield, Elisabeth Moss, and others.
- Excellent Lead Actress in a Drama Collection: Elisabeth Moss
- Excellent Supporting Actor in a Drama Collection: Bradley Whitford, O-T Fagbenle, Max Minghella, Josh Charles, Sam Jaeger, Timothy Simons
- Excellent Supporting Actress in a Drama Collection: Yvonne Strahovski, Ann Dowd, Samira Wiley, Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, Ever Carradine
- Excellent Visitor Actress in a Drama Collection: Alexis Bledel (610), Cherry Jones (602), D’Arcy Carden (608)
- Craft and Artistic Arts Classes
Excellent Directing for a Drama Collection: Elisabeth Moss (609) - Excellent Writing for a Drama Collection:
- “Exodus” – Yahlin Chang (608)
- “Execution” – Eric Tuchman (609)
- “The Handmaid’s Story” – Bruce Miller (610)
- Excellent Cinematography: Nicola Daley (608), Stuart Biddlecombe (610)
- Excellent Manufacturing Design: Elisabeth Williams and staff (608)
- Excellent Modern Costumes: Leslie Kavanagh and staff (608)
- Excellent Make-up (Non-Prosthetic): Burton LeBlanc and staff (607)
- Excellent Music Composition: Adam Taylor (609)
- Excellent Music Supervision: Maggie Phillips, Brittany Whyte (602)
- Excellent Sound Enhancing: Full staff listed (609)
- Excellent Sound Mixing: Full staff listed (609)
- Excellent Stunt Coordination: Brian Jagersky
- Excellent Stunt Efficiency: Ensemble (609)
- Excellent Particular Visible Results: Mavericks VFX (610)
- Excellent Image Enhancing: Wendy Hallam Martin (609)
- Excellent Casting: Sharon Bialy, Russell Scott, Sherry Thomas, Robin D. Prepare dinner
- Brief Kind Submission
Excellent Brief Kind Nonfiction or Actuality Collection: “The Handmaid’s Story: The Finish of an Epic”