Diego Peralta
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards will see plenty of talented artists competing for gold after what turned out to be a high-quality year for television. The field is just one talented artist after another, trying to prove that they are the best in their field. It all comes down to the glamorous ceremony that will take place at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
One of the most underrated categories in the entire affair is Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Due to the wide field this category tackles, it’s hard to determine who will come out on top. Movies, limited series and definitive narratives can all be selected for a shot at the award. The 2025 nominees in this category are Philip Barantini, Shannon Murphy, Helen Shaver, Jennifer Getzinger, Nicole Kassell and Leslie Linka Glatter.
Philip Barantini
Nominated for: Adolescence.
Previous Nominations: None. Philip is a first-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee.
Hidden Gem: Boiling Point. (2021).
No one expected Adolescence to become such a massive hit when it made its way to Netflix. The series, which was created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, a young boy is arrested on the suspicion that he took the life of one of his classmates. The stories center on the analysis of the boy’s emotions and social context.
Adolescence was watched by more than 96.7 million views, becoming the most watched series in the United States during its time of release. The world was certainly intrigued about what the show was trying to say regarding mental health and today’s youth. It remains to be seen if Adolescence can give Philip his first Grammy.
Shannon Murphy
Nominated for: Dying for Sex.
Previous Nominations: None. Shannon is a first-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee.
Hidden Gem: Select episodes of Killing Eve. (2020).
The premise of Dying for Sex is one that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. Molly Kochan (Michelle Williams) is a woman who is diagnosed with a powerful and dangerous cancer. Realizing that she doesn’t have much time left, she leaves her husband in the look of an orgasm, leading her to a wild ride.
Shannon’s job was to capture all of these complicated emotions. Molly feels devastated about her condition, while amused at the idea of finding the physical experience she desires. This balance of sorrow, lust and love was what earned Shannon such an impressive nomination for the first time in her trajectory.
Helen Shaver
Nominated for: The Penguin.
Previous Nominations: None. Helen is a first-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee.
Hidden Gem: One episode of Lovecraft Country. (2020).
The Penguin made a statement when it was released on HBO in the fall of 2024. The Batman established a new Gotham City, one that could be enjoyed by audiences after the decline of the DC Extended Universe. The result was a wide roster of engaging characters who made audiences believe in the latest iteration of The Dark Knight
Oswald Cobblepot (Colin Farell) didn’t get a lot of screen time in The Batman. Nevertheless, his television series made it clear that Gotham won’t be able to survive without the Caped Crusader. Helen was one of the filmmakers who made the characters from The Penguin feel extremely real.
Jennifer Getzinger
Nominated for: The Penguin.
Previous Nominations: None. Jennifer is a first-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee.
Hidden Gem: The first season finale of Ahsoka. (2023).
The Penguin wouldn’t have turned into a massive success if it wasn’t for its characters. The directors involved with the Batman spinoff had to shine the spotlight on the decisions Oswald took, and how the villain related to the people closest to him. The result was one of HBO’s best series in years.
Since The Penguin was nominated in the category that included limited shows, it seems unlikely that the series will return. Nevertheless, this small corner of Gotham City will be remembered by DC fans for a long time to come. The talented crew that worked on the spinoff received plenty of recognition through these nominations.
Helen Shaver
Nominated for: The Penguin.
Previous Nominations: None. Helen is a first-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee.
Hidden Gem: One episode of Lovecraft Country. (2020).
The Penguin made a statement when it was released on HBO in the fall of 2024. The Batman established a new Gotham City, one that could be enjoyed by audiences after the decline of the DC Extended Universe. The result was a wide roster of engaging characters who made audiences believe in the latest iteration of The Dark Knight
Oswald Cobblepot (Colin Farell) didn’t get a lot of screen time in The Batman. Nevertheless, his television series made it clear that Gotham won’t be able to survive without the Caped Crusader. Helen was one of the filmmakers who made the characters from The Penguin feel extremely real.
Nicole Kassell
Nominated for: Sirens.
Previous Nominations: Three. Nicole was previously recognized by the Emmys due to her work in Watchmen.
Hidden Gem: One episode of Westworld. (2018).
Sirens enchanted viewers with its premise. A young woman became worried with the relationship established between her sister and her new employer. Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock and Glenn Howerton led the dark comedy that took over the industry in the summer of 2025.
Sirens gave Milly Alcock the opportunity to steal the spotlight once again, after delivering a breakthrough performance in House of the Dragon, but before flying into the DCU as Supergirl. Nicole earned her nomination after months of hard work alongside Netflix and the cast of the show.
Leslie Linka Glatter
Nominated for: Zero Day.
Previous Nominations: Nine. Mad Men allowed Leslie to establish herself as a powerhouse in the industry.
Hidden Gem: Select episodes of The West Wing. (2002).
Zero Day had the enormous responsibility of handling a performance by Robert De Niro in a limited television series. It has been hard for streaming platforms to set up lucrative contracts with acclaimed actors and filmmakers. Netflix achieved the impossible with their Robert De Niro deal.
The limited show was created by Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim and Michael Schmidt. The team behind Zero Day wanted to deliver a political thriller that could keep audiences on the edge of their seats. The result was production that made it all the way to the Primetime Emmy Awards.
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