2024 Emmys Director and Writing Predictions
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
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2024 Emmy Predictions:
Outstanding Directing/Writing (Drama, Comedy, Limited, TV Movie)
Weekly Commentary (Updated: June 4, 2024): Surprising news has emerged from studios regarding submissions for the directing and writing categories for the Emmys, with nomination voting set to open on June 13.
In the comedy category, “The Bear” has only submitted the iconic episode “Fishes,” written by Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo, for outstanding writing in a comedy. Surprisingly, the impressive episode “Forks,” which follows Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as he’s trained at an upscale restaurant, won’t be up for consideration. “Fishes” by Storer and “Honeydew” by Ramy Youssef will be on the ballot for directing.
“Abbott Elementary” sees Emmy-winning writer Quinta Brunson attempting to reclaim her title with the season premiere episode “Career Day.” The show has yet to receive recognition for its directorial achievements, but there’s anticipation that Randall Einhorn might finally make the lineup after directing the finale, “Party.”
A surprise freshman series could also make an appearance in the race. Paramount’s “Colin From Accounts,” with writers and stars Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer, is a strong contender. Additionally, the final season of “Reservation Dogs” might earn a long-overdue farewell bid for creator Sterlin Harjo. The series finale episodes of “Young Sheldon” or “Curb Your Enthusiasm” could also find their way into the competition after garnering buzz the past few weeks.
In the drama series category, “Shogun” is expected to make a significant impact. Meanwhile, the limited series category is shaping up to be a three-horse race between “True Detective” and Netflix’s double entries of “Baby Reindeer” and “Ripley.”
Read: All Primetime Emmy predictions in every category on Variety’s Awards Circuit.
Directing (Drama Series)
And the Predicted Nominees Are
Rank | Series |
|---|---|
1 | “Shо̄gun” (FX) — Jonathan van Tulleken, “Chapter One: Anjin” |
2 | “The Crown” (Netflix) — Stephen Daldry, “Sleep, Dearie Sleep” |
3 | “Shо̄gun” (FX) — Frederick E.O. Toye, “Chapter Nine: Crimson Sky” |
4 | “Fallout” (Prime Video) — Jonathan Nolan, “The End” |
5 | “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+) — Mimi Leder, “The Overview Effect” |
6 | “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (Prime Video) — Hiro Murai, “First Date” |
7 | “The Curse” (Showtime) — Nathan Fielder, “Green Queen” |
Directing (Drama)
Next in Line
Rank | Series |
|---|---|
8 | “Shо̄gun” (FX) — Charlotte Brändström, “Tomorrow is Tomorrow” |
9 | “3 Body Problem” (Netflix) — Derek Tsang, “Countdown” |
10 | “The Gilded Age” (Max) — Michael Engler, “In Terms of Winning and Losing”) |
11 | “Slow Horses” (Apple TV+) — Saul Metzstein, series |
12 | “Ahsoka” (Disney+) — Dave Filoni, “Part Five: Shadow Warrior” |
13 | “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” (Prime Video) — Donald Glover, “A Breakup” |
14 | “Loki” (Disney+) — Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, “Science/Fiction” |
15 | “The Green Veil” (The Network) — Aram Rappaport, “The War” |
Writing (Drama Series)
And the Predicted Nominees Are
Rank | Series |
|---|---|
1 | “Shōgun” (FX) — “Chapter One: Anjin” by Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks |
2 | “Shōgun” (FX) — “Chapter Nine: Crimson Sky” by Rachel Kondo, Caillin Puente |
3 | “The Crown” (Netflix) — “Sleep, Dearie Sleep” by Peter Morgan |
4 | “Fallout” (Prime Video) — “The End” by Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet |
5 | “3 Body Problem” (Netflix) — “Countdown” by David Benioff, D. B. Weiss, Alexander Woo |
6 | “The Curse” (Showtime) — “Land of Enchantment” by Nathan Fielder & Benny Safdie |
7 | “The Gilded Age” (Max) — “In Terms of Winning and Losing” by Julian Fellowes |
Writing (Drama)
Next in Line
Rank | Series |
|---|---|
8 | “Shōgun” (FX) — “Chapter Ten: A Dream of a Dream” by Maegan Houang, Emily Yoshida |
9 | “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” (Prime Video) — “First Date” by Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover |
10 | “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” (AMC) — “What We” by Danai Gurira |
11 | “Slow Horses” (Apple TV+) — “Strange Games” by Will Smith |
12 | “Tokyo Vice” (Max) — “Endgame” by J. T. Rogers |
13 | “The New Look” (Apple TV+) — “Just You Wait and See” by Todd A. Kessler |
14 | “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” (Paramount+) — “Subspace Rhapsody” by Bill Wolkoff and Dana Horgan |
15 | “Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” (Max) — “One Ring Don’t Make a Dynasty” by Max Borenstein & Rodney Barnes |
Directing (Comedy Series)
And the Predicted Nominees Are
Rank | Series |
|---|---|
1 | “The Bear” (FX) — Christopher Storer, “Fishes” |
2 | “Hacks” (Max) — Lucia Aniello, “Just For Laughs” |
3 | “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (Max) — Jeff Schaffer, “No Lessons Learned” |
4 | “The Gentlemen” (Netflix) — Guy Ritchie, “Refined Aggression” |
5 | “The Ms. Pat Show” (BET+) — Mary Lou Belli, “I’m the Pappy” |
6 | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC) — Randall Einhorn, “Party” |
7 | “The Bear” (FX) — Ramy Youssef, “Honeydew” |
Directing (Comedy)
Next in Line
Rank | Series |
|---|---|
8 | “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu) – John Hoffman, “The Show Must…” |
9 | “Gen V” (Prime Video) — Steve Boyum, “The Whole Truth” |
10 | “Reservation Dogs” (FX) — Sterlin Harjo, “Dig” |
11 | “Palm Royale” (Apple TV+) — Tate Taylor, “Maxine Goes to Palm Beach” |
12 | “I’m a Virgo” (Prime Video) — Boots Riley, series |
13 | “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu) – Shari Berman & Robert Pulcini, “Sitzprobe” |
14 | “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (Max) — Robert B. Weide, “The Colostomy Bag” |
15 | “Hacks” (Max) — Paul W. Downs, “Yes, And” |
Writing (Comedy Series)
And the Predicted Nominees Are
Rank | Series |
|---|---|
1 | “The Bear” (FX) — “Fishes” by Joanna Calo, Christopher Storer |
2 | “Hacks” (Max) — “Just For Laughs” by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky |
3 | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC) — “Career Day” by Quinta Brunson |
4 | “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu) — “Opening Night” by John Hoffman, Ben Smith |
5 | “What We Do in the Shadows” (FX) — “Pride Parade” by Jake Bender, Zach Dunn |
6 | “Reservation Dogs” (FX) — “Dig” by Chad Charlie and Sterlin Harjo |
7 | “Colin From Accounts” (Paramount+) — “The Flash” by Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer |
Writing (Comedy)
Next in Line
Rank | Series |
|---|---|
8 | “Young Sheldon” (CBS) — “Memoir” by Chuck Lorre & Steven Molaro & Steve Holland |
9 | “Loot” (Apple TV+) — “Space for Everyone” by Alan Yang, Matt Hubbard |
10 | “The Gentlemen” (Netflix) — “Refined Aggression” by Guy Ritchie and Matthew Read |
11 | “Palm Royale” (Apple TV+) — “Maxine Goes to Palm Beach” by Abe Sylvia |
12 | “Gen V” (Prime Video) — “God U.” by Craig Rosenberg, Evan Goldberg and Eric Kripke |
13 | “Dreaming Whilst Black” (Showtime) — “Pilot” by Adjani Salmon & Ali Hughes |
14 | “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (FX) – “Celebrity Booze: The Ultimate Cash Grab” by Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton |
15 | “Diarra from Detriot” (BET+) — “Chasing Ghosts” by Diarra Kilpatrick |
Directing (Limited Series/TV Movie)
And the Predicted Nominees Are
Rank | Series |
|---|---|
1 | “Ripley” (Netflix) — Steven Zaillian, series |
2 | “Baby Reindeer” (Netflix) — Weronika Tofilska, “Episode 1” |
3 | “True Detective: Night Country” (Max) — Issa López, series |
4 | “Lessons in Chemistry” (Apple TV+) — Sarah Adina Smith, “Her and Him” |
5 | “The Sympathizer” (Max) — Park Chan-wook, “Death Wish” |
Directing (Limited)
Next in Line
Rank | Series |
|---|---|
6 | “Lessons in Chemistry” (Apple TV+) — Tara Miele, “Introduction to Chemistry” |
7 | “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans” (FX) – Gus Van Sant, “Pilot” |
8 | “Fellow Travelers” (Showtime) — Daniel Minahan, “You’re Wonderful” |
9 | “Fargo” (FX) – Noah Hawley, “The Tragedy of the Commons” |
10 | “Masters of the Air” (Apple TV+) — Cary Joji Fukunaga, “Part One” |
11 | “All the Light We Cannot See” (Netflix) — Shawn Levy |
12 | “Expats” (Prime Video) — Lulu Wang, series |
13 | “Lessons in Chemistry” (Apple TV+) — Millicent Shelton, “Poirot” |
14 | “A Murder at the End of the World” (FX) – Brit Marling, “Chapter 1: Homme Fatale” |
15 | “Under the Bridge” (FX) – Geeta Vasant Patel, “Looking Glass” |
Writing (Limited Series/TV Movie)
And the Predicted Nominees Are
Rank | Series |
|---|---|
1 | “Baby Reindeer” (Netflix) — Series by Richard Gadd |
2 | “True Detective: Night Country” (Max) — Series by Issa López |
3 | “Ripley” (Netflix) — Series by Steven Zaillian |
4 | “Fargo” (FX) – “The Tragedy of the Commons” by Noah Hawley |
5 | “Fellow Travelers” (Showtime) — “You’re Wonderful” by Ron Nyswaner |
Writing (Limited)
Next in Line
Rank | Series |
|---|---|
6 | “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans” (FX) – Series by Jon Robin Baitz |
7 | “Lessons in Chemistry” (Apple TV+) — “Little Miss Hastings” by Lee Eisenberg |
8 | “Expats” (Prime Video) — Series by Lulu Wang |
9 | “The Sympathizer” (Max) — “Death Wish” by Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar |
10 | “Under the Bridge” (Hulu) — “Mercy Alone” by Samir Mehta |
11 | “All the Light We Cannot See” (Netflix) — Series by Steven Knight |
12 | “We Were The Lucky Ones” (Hulu) – “Rio” by Erica Lipez |
13 | “Masters of the Air” (Apple TV+) — “Part One” by John Orloff, John Shiban |
14 | “A Gentleman in Moscow” (Paramount+) — “A Master of Circumstance” by Ben Vanstone |
15 | “Apples Never Fall” (Peacock) — “The Delaneys” by Melanie Marnich |
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