LOS ANGELES — Apple TV+’s psychological sci-fi thriller Severance has secured the most nominations for the 77th Emmy Awards, leading the 2025 pack with 27 nods, according to the full list released Tuesday by the Television Academy.
The breakout drama, centered on a biotech firm that surgically splits employees’ memories between work and home life, emerged as the year’s top contender ahead of The Penguin, HBO Max’s Batman spinoff series, which received 24 nominations.
Tied for third place were HBO’s The White Lotus and Apple’s biting Hollywood satire The Studio, each earning 23 nominations.
“This campaign has exceeded every expectation. It’s a celebration of risk-taking storytelling,” said Apple executives in a joint statement following the announcement.
The nominations officially launched the Emmy Awards season, ahead of the ceremony scheduled for September 14 in Los Angeles. Voting by Academy members will close in late August.
Severance star Adam Scott was nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Series, competing against Noah Wyle (The Pitt), Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), and Sterling K. Brown (Paradise).
Scott’s co-star Britt Lower also secured a Best Actress nomination alongside Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us) and Keri Russell (The Diplomat).
Additional nominees for Best Drama Series include:
- Andor (Disney+)
- The Diplomat (Netflix)
- The Last of Us (HBO)
- Paradise (Hulu)
- Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
- The White Lotus (HBO)
The Pitt, which dramatizes a Pittsburgh emergency room during a single 15-hour shift and was filmed in near real-time, earned 13 nominations. “It’s ER on adrenaline,” a production insider commented.
The Penguin will compete in the Best Limited Series category against Netflix’s Adolescence, Black Mirror, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, and FX’s Dying for Sex.
Adolescence breakout Owen Cooper earned a Supporting Actor nomination for his role as a 13-year-old accused of murder. Monsters, based on the real-life Menendez brothers case, scored acting nods for Cooper Koch, Javier Bardem, and Chloë Sevigny.
In comedy, The Studio emerged as a top contender. The series, starring and created by Seth Rogen, takes a sharp jab at Hollywood’s inner workings and earned multiple nominations, including for cast members Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, and Catherine O’Hara.
Returning favorites Hacks and The Bear followed with 14 and 13 nominations, respectively. Jeremy Allen White, who previously won Best Actor for The Bear, is back in the race this year.
Other top comedy series nominees include:
- Abbott Elementary (ABC)
- Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
- Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
- Shrinking (Apple TV+)
- What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows) and Brenda Song (Running Point) revealed the nominations during a livestreamed announcement ceremony.
The Emmys will be hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, returning to the stage after a successful run as emcee at the Critics Choice Awards earlier this year.
Following the announcement, Academy voters now have one month to screen nominated titles before final ballots open in mid-August.
The upcoming ceremony is expected to spotlight shifting industry trends, especially the continued dominance of streaming platforms and the rise of limited series rooted in real-life crime and psychological drama.
The Emmy Awards will air live on September 14 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
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