Bryan Cranston leads Emmy predictions for The Studio, emerging as the frontrunner in a field packed with high-caliber competition, as new odds and forecasts suggest a dynamic race across both guest performer and series categories. Updated predictions from Gold Derby, combining insights from over 2,600 experts, editors, and users, set up an energetic contest heading into this year’s Emmy Awards season.
Early Forecasts Point to Fierce Competition in Guest Categories
The latest additions to Gold Derby’s Emmy predictions center have drawn fresh attention to the four guest acting categories. These critical nods, based on forecasts by a blend of awards experts and a broad user base, offer a revealing look at shifting momentum entering the final stretch before nominations are set. Each category has notable favorites, but several high-profile names stand ready to upset the expected outcome.
Kaitlyn Dever, Catherine O’Hara Lead Drama Guest Actress Predictions
Within the Best Drama Guest Actress race, The Last of Us boasts the strongest showing. Kaitlyn Dever, recognized for her breakout role as Abby—a hardened survivor navigating a post-apocalyptic, zombie-ravaged world—currently sits atop the odds. Dever’s nomination would mark a new chapter, as she seeks her first Emmy win.
Hot on her heels, Catherine O’Hara is predicted to secure the number two spot for her portrayal of Gail, a tough therapist who finds herself entangled with Pedro Pascal‘s Joel. O’Hara brings an established reputation, already having received Emmys for Schitt’s Creek and SCTV Network, adding further weight to her nomination this year.
Other top prospects include Gwendoline Christie and Merritt Wever for Severance, Cherry Jones for The Handmaid’s Tale, and Hilary Swank in Yellowjackets. Tati Gabrielle and Jane Alexander are also viewed as potential spoilers, alongside Julie Hagerty for Matlock, Sydney Cole Alexander for Severance, Rebecca Tilney for The Pitt, and Angela Bassett from Doctor Odyssey.
Jeffrey Wright and Shawn Hatosy Head Drama Guest Actor Odds
Turning to Best Drama Guest Actor, Emmy winner Jeffrey Wright claims current leadership for his nuanced work as Isaac in The Last of Us. Wright’s portrayal of a former FEDRA soldier in chaotic Seattle has generated both critical praise and vocal support from prediction polls, suggesting he’s well-positioned for another award after his 2004 triumph in Angels in America.
Shawn Hatosy trails as a strong challenger, earning attention as Dr. Abbott in The Pitt, where his character’s interactions with Noah Wyle’s Dr. Robby Robinavitch anchor memorable episodes. Scott Glenn (The White Lotus), Joe Pantoliano (The Last of Us), Mackenzie Astin (The Pitt), and Beau Bridges (Matlock) round out the likely nominee slate. Danny Ramirez, Robby Benson, Ben Mendelsohn, Michael Emerson, Gong Yoo, and John Noble are all contenders who could disrupt the established order.
Star Power Shapes Comedy Guest Actress Forecasts
Best Comedy Guest Actress predictions feature some of the most iconic names in entertainment. Jamie Lee Curtis, fresh off an Oscar win, is favored to claim her second consecutive Emmy in this field for her portrayal of Donna Berzatto—an explosive maternal figure in FX’s hit series The Bear. If victorious, Curtis would join an exclusive club of back-to-back winners.
Julianne Nicholson, who earned previous Emmy recognition for Mare of Easttown, looks for repeat success in her beloved role as the ‘Dance Mom’ on Hacks. Cynthia Erivo (Poker Face), Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live), Kaitlin Olson (Hacks), and Melissa McCarthy (Only Murders in the Building) complete the predicted nominee list. Observers are also tracking possible surprises from Zoë Kravitz and Sarah Polley for The Studio, plus Ariana Grande, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Carol Burnett, and Helen Hunt.
Bryan Cranston Rises to the Top for Best Comedy Guest Actor
Bryan Cranston leads Emmy predictions for The Studio in the Best Comedy Guest Actor category, where his portrayal of unfiltered Continental CEO Griffin Mill has set him apart. Cranston already holds a remarkable Emmy legacy, boasting four trophies for his role in Breaking Bad and two for producing Best Drama Series winners. Should he prevail, this would mark his seventh career Emmy—a feat that cements his enduring influence on television.
The Studio strengthens its presence in this category with acclaimed names such as Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard, whose guest performances have garnered significant buzz. Jon Bernthal (The Bear), Christopher McDonald (Hacks), and Martin Short (Saturday Night Live) are also in the hunt for recognition. Will Poulter, Giancarlo Esposito, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Mike Myers, and Griffin Dunne are highlighted as potential spoilers who could shift the nomination landscape.
Drama and Comedy Series Races: Key Contenders and Surprise Threats
Beyond the guest categories, Best Drama Series expectations place Severance at the peak, followed by high-profile shows like The Pitt, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and Slow Horses. Additional series fighting for limited nomination spaces include The Diplomat, Andor, and Squid Game. Potential surprises could come from Paradise, The Handmaid’s Tale, Bad Sisters, The Day of the Jackal, House of the Dragon, and High Potential.
On the comedy side, Hacks is currently the show to beat, with The Studio, The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, and Abbott Elementary all seeing strong momentum. Shrinking, Nobody Wants This, and What We Do in the Shadows make up the rest of the predicted field. Dark horse threats like The Four Seasons, A Man on the Inside, The Residence, Poker Face, Agatha All Along, and Colin from Accounts remain in contention for the final nomination slots.
Spotlight on Drama Acting Categories
In leading drama performances, the Best Drama Actress field is currently topped by Kathy Bates for her role in Matlock. Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us), Keri Russell (The Diplomat), Britt Lower (Severance), Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets) follow close behind.
Potential contenders not on the main list but still in the running include Keira Knightley (Black Doves), Carrie Preston (Elsbeth), Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters), Kaitlin Olson (High Potential), Zoe Saldaña (Lioness), and Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton).
The Best Drama Actor category is led by Noah Wyle for The Pitt, ahead of Adam Scott (Severance), Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), Sterling K. Brown (Paradise), and Eddie Redmayne (The Day of the Jackal). Outside challengers include Diego Luna, Lee Jung-jae, Jon Hamm, Billy Bob Thornton, Jeff Bridges, and Rufus Sewell.
Notable Drama Supporting Performers
In the supporting ranks, Carrie Coon and Parker Posey are strong favorites for The White Lotus, while Allison Janney (The Diplomat), Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus), Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus), Isabela Merced (The Last of Us), and Patricia Arquette (Severance) are expected to secure nominations. The list of possible surprises contains Taylor Dearden, Katherine LaNasa, Leslie Bibb, Dichen Lachman, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Julianne Nicholson.
Among the men, Walton Goggins (The White Lotus), John Turturro and Tramell Tillman (Severance), Jason Isaacs (The White Lotus), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), Sam Rockwell (The White Lotus), and Patrick Schwarzenegger (The White Lotus) top predictions. Potential upsetters include Patrick Ball, Jonathan Pryce, Zach Cherry, Stellan Skarsgård, Ken Leung, and Gerran Howell.
Comedy Performers Vying for Emmy Recognition
Best Comedy Actress odds place Jean Smart (Hacks) in the leading position, with Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This), Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face), and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building) forming the core challengers. Uzo Aduba, Kathryn Hahn, Tina Fey, Bridget Everett, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Natasia Demetriou are all potential spoilers.
For Comedy Actor, Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building) has the inside track, ahead of Seth Rogen (The Studio), Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This), Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building), and Jason Segel (Shrinking). Ted Danson, Steve Carell, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Nathan Fielder, Benito Skinner, and Matt Berry remain in the wings.
Supporting comedy performances see Hannah Einbinder (Hacks), Liza Cólon-Zayas (The Bear), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary), Catherine O’Hara (The Studio), Jessica Williams (Shrinking), and Janelle James (Abbott Elementary) favored by predictors. Kathryn Hahn, Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, Meg Stalter, Linda Lavin, and Susan Kelechi Watson are on the list of names that could appear if voting trends shift.
In the male supporting ranks, Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear) sits at the top, followed by Harrison Ford (Shrinking), Paul W. Downs (Hacks), Ike Barinholtz (The Studio), Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary), and Michael Urie (Shrinking). Alternative contenders include Bowen Yang, Colman Domingo, Timothy Simons, Brett Goldstein, Marcello Hernández, and Paul Rudd.
Spotlight on Limited Series and TV Movies
In addition to ongoing drama and comedy races, limited series categories maintain their own competitive flavor. Adolescence emerges as the favorite to take home Best Limited Series, trailed by The Penguin, Dying for Sex, Disclaimer, and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Say Nothing, Black Mirror, Presumed Innocent, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, Sirens, and The Narrow Road to the Deep North round out the list of potential game-changers.
For TV Movie, Rebel Ridge dominates early forecasts, with Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Out of My Mind, Mountainhead, and Am I OK? in contention. The field of outside threats is led by The Gorge, Nonnas, G20, The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, Swiped, and The Parenting.
Recognizing Standouts in Limited Series Acting
The Best Movie/Limited Actress category identifies Cristin Milioti (The Penguin) in the top slot, ahead of Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex), Cate Blanchett (Disclaimer), Renée Zellweger (Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy), and Kaitlyn Dever (Apple Cider Vinegar). Challengers include Lola Petticrew, Ellen Pompeo, Ari Graynor, Uzo Aduba, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Meghann Fahy.
For Best Movie/Limited Actor, Colin Farrell (The Penguin) is predicted as the favorite, followed by Stephen Graham (Adolescence), Cooper Koch (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story), Kevin Kline (Disclaimer), and Brian Tyree Henry (Dope Thief). The potential for surprise nominations comes from Jake Gyllenhaal, Aaron Pierre, Paul Giamatti, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Robert De Niro, and Steve Carell.
The supporting actress category for limited series or movies features Erin Doherty (Adolescence), Deirdre O’Connell (The Penguin), Jenny Slate (Dying for Sex), Lesley Manville (Disclaimer), Sissy Spacek (Dying for Sex), Christine Tremarco (Adolescence), and Chloe Sevigny (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story) in predicted spots, while Leila George, Ruth Negga, Angela Bassett, Imogen Faith Reid, Emma Corrin, and Julianne Moore are possible wild cards.
Supporting actors see Owen Cooper (Adolescence), Javier Bardem (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story), Rhenzy Feliz (The Penguin), Rob Delaney (Dying for Sex), Ashley Walters (Adolescence), Peter Sarsgaard (Presumed Innocent), and Kodi Smit-McPhee (Disclaimer) at the top, with Hugh Grant, Brian Cox, Jay Duplass, Jesse Plemons, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Diego Luna being additional names to watch.
Gold Derby’s Methodology and Industry Trends
Gold Derby’s Emmy odds and category forecasts draw on predictions by a diverse sample including major media experts, specialized editors, and a highly engaged user base. By aggregating data from thousands of participants, their predictions reflect both industry consensus and fresh trends, offering a comprehensive snapshot of Emmy races as they unfold. Those following the Emmy journey can examine evolving charts, graphs, and community discussions to observe shifts in sentiment and favorites in real time.
A Transformative Emmy Season Lies Ahead
This year’s predictions illustrate a field in constant motion, powered by big-name contenders and breakout stars alike. Bryan Cranston’s standing as the leader in the Best Comedy Guest Actor race for The Studio is reflective of the fierce, passionate energy surrounding this season’s Emmys. Across all categories—whether in drama, comedy, or limited series—the landscape is filled with both established legends like Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, and Catherine O’Hara, and newcomers hoping to secure their place among television’s best.
The evolving Emmy odds suggest that audiences, critics, and industry members all play an essential role in determining the nominees and, ultimately, the winners. As key dates approach, expect further shifts in momentum. While favorites have emerged in the early predictions, the dynamic nature of the competition means that major upsets and defining television moments are still very much possible. This year’s Emmy race is shaping up to be among the most vibrant in recent memory, with intense enthusiasm building across the entertainment landscape.
