Limited Series 2021 Emmys Predictions & Contenders

Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy are front and center in the first trailer for Hulu’s tentpole limited series Nine Perfect Strangers, which premiered during the 93rd Academy Awards telecast on sibling ABC. Based on Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty’s latest book, the project is from David E. Kelley, Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories, Kidman’s Blossom Films and Endeavor Content.

Based on The New York Times bestselling book by author Liane Moriarty, Nine Perfect Strangers takes place at a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation as nine stressed city dwellers try to get on a path to a better way of living. Watching over them during this ten-day retreat is the resort’s director Masha (Nicole Kidman), a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies.

Starz has put in development The Case of Cyntoia Brown, a limited drama series inspired by the story of Cyntoia Brown-Long, who served 15 years of a life sentence for killing a man when she was 16 years old.

Today, on what would have been legendary fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick’s 89th birthday, Netflix honors the visionary icon by announcing the May 14 global premiere date for the limited series “Halston,” starring Ewan McGregor and revealing its first look at the series. READ MORE: The 65 Most Anticipated TV Shows & Mini-Series Of 2021 In case you’re unaware, Halston was the creator of the ultra-chic ’80s Ultrasuede look and a late ’70s and ’80s fashion icon.

On what would have been legendary fashion designer Halston’s (born Roy Halston Frowick) 89th birthday, Netflix today announced a May 14 global premiere date for Ryan Murphy’s limited series Halston, starring Ewan McGregor in the title role. The streamer also released the key art (below) and a set of Warhol-inspired polaroids featuring the cast, Halston’s entourage.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch‘s John Cameron Mitchell has been tapped to play the title character opposite Kate McKinnon in Joe Exotic (working title), UCP’s limited series based on the Wondery podcast, which is set to air across NBCU’s Television and Streaming Entertainment portfolio, including NBC, USA Network and Peacock.

EXCLUSIVE: Pepi Sonuga (9-1-1, Thriller) and Andrew Dice Clay (Blue Jasmine, A Star is Born) are set for recurring roles opposite Lily James, Sebastian Stan and Seth Rogen in Pam & Tommy, Hulu’s limited series based on the true story behind the release of the first ever viral video in history — the sex tape of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. Nick Offerman also stars.

EXCLUSIVE: ABC is rounding out the recurring cast for its limited series Women of the Movement, from creator-writer Marissa Jo Cerar and a producing team that includes Jay-Z, Will Smith and Aaron Kaplan. Joining the cast are Leslie Silva as Ruby Hurley, Chris Butler as Rayfield Mooty, Alex Désert as Dr. Howard, Miles Fowler as Simeon Booker, Tongayi Chirisa as Medgar Evers, Jason Turner as James Hicks, and Daniel Abeles as Chet Packton.

It seems Netflix continues to be in the business of making new adaptations of books that were turned into classic thriller movies by Alfred Hitchcock. Last year saw the release of the disappointing new adaptation of “Rebecca,” and now, the streaming is developing a new adaptation of “The 39 Steps” as a limited series, with Benedict Cumberbatch starring.

Benedict Cumberbatch is filling up his roster with another limited series project.

EXCLUSIVE: The story of pool phenom Danny Basavich (aka Kid Delicious) is in the works for the small screen. Emmy-winning writer Todd Robinson (White Squall) and producer Rocky Lang have acquired Basavich’s life rights  to develop an eight-episode limited series.

EXCLUSIVE: Scandal alum Cornelius Smith Jr. has been tapped as a lead opposite Vera Farmiga and Adepero Oduye in Five Days at Memorial, Apple TV+’s limited series from John Ridley, Carlton Cuse and ABC Signature.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterNetflix has ordered “The 39 Steps,” a limited series based on the 1915 John Buchan novel that will star Benedict Cumberbatch, with Edward Berger at the helm and Mark L.

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has landed The 39 Steps, a limited series star vehicle for Benedict Cumberbatch. Edward Berger, who previously teamed with Cumberbatch on Patrick Melrose, will direct and The Revenant scribe Mark L. Smith will write the series. It’s an update of the classic thriller novel by John Buchan that was famously turned into the 1935 film classic by Alfred Hitchcock.

The Comedy and Drama Series categories are filled with questions about what programs will fill out the eight slots allotted for each, but the Limited Series race is a battle royale for just five nominees. It’s so competitive there are arguably only two locks, “The Queen’s Gambit” and “WandaVision.” And there are two “should be” locks in “I May Destroy You” and “Small Axe,” but, sadly, neither is guaranteed to make the five.

Adepero Oduye (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Pariah) has been tapped as a lead opposite Vera Farmiga in Five Days At Memorial, Apple TV+’s limited series from John Ridley, Carlton Cuse and ABC Signature. The project reunites 12 Years a Slave co-star Oduye with the Oscar-winning movie’s writer Ridley.

EXCLUSIVE: Jodie Turner-Smith has departed Netflix’s six-part, live-action limited series The Witcher: Blood Origin. She was to play a lead, Éile, in the prequel to the streamer’s hit series The Witcher.

Nick Offerman has been tapped to co-star opposite Lily James, Sebastian Stan and Seth Rogen in Pam & Tommy, Hulu’s limited series based on the true story behind the release of the first ever viral video in history — the sex tape of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee.

Barring a last-minute deluge of contenders premiering in time, the race for a 2021 Comedy Series nomination is wide, wide open. Granted, “Ted Lasso” is the easy frontrunner to win it all, but out of the expected eight nomination slots there are only six likely nominees and even that might be a stretch.

Emmy season is upon us and, once again, the Drama Series category looks like it will be as competitive as usual. Even with eight nomination slots, not all the players are confirmed.