All of The Penguin submissions to Emmy Awards 2025 revealed

The Penguin is already shaping up to be one of the standout contenders of the 2025 Emmy season. Blending brutal ambition with emotional depth, the HBO limited series paints Gotham through a colder, more grounded lens, one that puts its lead character under a stark spotlight.

Now that the show’s Emmy campaign is officially underway, the path is clearer: Colin Farrell is in the running for Lead Actor, Cristin Milioti is being considered for Lead Actress, and other major names from the cast and crew are showing up across multiple categories. It’s a strong awards push that reflects just how much weight this spin-off has carried since its premiere.

---

Gotham’s power vacuum, one step at a time

Taking place shortly after The Batman (2022), The Penguin dives straight into the aftermath of Carmine Falcone’s death. With the city’s criminal infrastructure destabilized, Oswald Oz Cobblepot sees a chance to rise, and he doesn't hesitate. Across eight tightly constructed episodes, we watch as Oz maneuvers through violence, betrayal, and ambition, attempting to claim a seat at Gotham’s most dangerous table.

The series isn’t interested in theatrics. What it offers instead is tension that simmers, characters who unravel slowly, and a noir aesthetic that feels as intimate as it is unrelenting. Created by Lauren LeFranc and produced by Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark, and Colin Farrell, The Penguin strips down the myth and builds something raw from the bones of Gotham’s criminal world.

---

A new take on an old villain

We’ve seen the Penguin before, umbrella in hand, theatrical, often exaggerated. But this version? He limps. He bleeds. He calculates every move like a man who’s had to fight for every inch of ground. Colin Farrell’s Oz is less of a caricature and more of a product of Gotham’s harshness: desperate, strategic, and unwilling to be underestimated.

Instead of relying on past interpretations, the show lets Oz carve out his own arc. He’s not yet the kingpin we know from the comics. But we’re watching him become that version, one brutal choice at a time.

---

The Emmy run: who’s being submitted, and for what

HBO is positioning The Penguin as a limited series for the 2025 Emmys, which means this season is being treated as a complete story (at least for now). Here's a breakdown of the key submissions:

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie: Colin Farrell, for his haunting portrayal of Oz Cobb.

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie: Cristin Milioti, whose version of Sofia Falcone is as chilling as it is vulnerable.

Supporting Actor: Rhenzy Feliz, playing Victor Aguilar, a character whose loyalty and emotional clarity push against Oz’s descent.

Supporting Actress: Deirdre O’Connell, as Francis Cobb, whose presence is felt even when she isn’t in the room.

Writing in a Limited Series: Lauren LeFranc, for the episode A Great or Little Thing, often cited as the narrative turning point of the season.

The show is also contending in several technical categories like directing, cinematography, editing, production design, and more, areas that gave the series its distinct tone and texture.

---

How critics are responding

Since its debut, The Penguin has been a critical darling. Colin Farrell’s transformation, physical and emotional, has been widely praised, with many calling it one of the most nuanced villain performances in recent TV memory. He manages to be terrifying without shouting, heartbreaking without asking for sympathy.

Cristin Milioti also turns in a standout performance, offering a Sofia Falcone who is equal parts cold strategist and fragile legacy-bearer. Together, their power struggle becomes the emotional spine of the series. And with tight writing and a sharply tuned sense of pacing, The Penguin never overstays its welcome.

---

Where to watch, and what’s next

The full season is now available to stream on Max, and physical copies are out for collectors who want to revisit the story in a more permanent form. As of now, there’s no confirmation of a second season, but if the Emmy momentum continues, it wouldn’t be surprising to see conversations shift.

In the end, The Penguin doesn’t just succeed as a companion to The Batman. It stands on its own. It’s a story about power, survival, and the cost of trying to be feared in a city that’s already lost its soul. And with awards season heating up, it’s going to be hard to ignore.