Emmys 2021

Surprise: WandaVision Is Snubbed at the Primetime Emmys 2021

Marvel’s first Emmys player failed to score wins in any of the major categories, despite a staggering 23 nominations.
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Courtesy of Disney Plus 

WandaVision was always going to usher in a new TV era. It accidentally debuted as the first Marvel project on Disney+ and capitalized on this distinction, gripping viewers with its twisted sitcom week after week. Emmy voters took notice, giving WandaVision a towering 23 nominations at the Emmys 2021—the most for any limited series, including Mare of Easttown and The Queen’s Gambit, and the second most of any TV show this year, period. So…what happened?

Despite its stunning number of nods, WandaVision turned up empty at the Primetime Emmy Awards. The honors for outstanding limited series went to The Queen’s Gambit. Elizabeth Olsen was nominated in a historically stacked lead-actress category, which bent ultimately toward Kate Winslet for Mare of Easttown. Paul Bettany was in the less competitive lead-actor race, but it was Halston’s Ewan McGregor who edged out a less-predicted victory. Kathryn Hahn seemed poised to bewitch the supporting-actress category, but was upset by Mare of Easttown’s Julianne Nicholson. 

WandaVision also came up short in the writing and directing categories. Three episodes were honored in the writing category—Jac Schaeffer for “Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience,” Laura Donney for “Previously On,” and the team of Chuck Hayward and Peter Cameron for “All-New Halloween Spooktacular!” But it was (finally!) Michaela Coel’s moment for I May Destroy You. On the directing front, Scott Frank won for The Queen’s Gambit over WandaVision’s Matt Shakman.

As it turns out, WandaVision had already won its only trio of statuettes at the Creative Arts ceremony. Two-time Oscar winners Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez won for their music and lyrics to the unexpected bop “Agatha All Along.” The superhero series was also recognized for its fantasy/sci-fi costumes and production design for a narrative program (half hour). 

“Honestly, I was like, if we have one nomination, we will have won,” series showrunner Jac Schaeffer, who also earned a writing nomination, told Vanity Fair in July. “The cards are kind of stacked against the superhero space when it comes to recognition and awards.” With that precedent in place, any win for the genre-defying show would break new ground. But the show’s fans were less forgiving about WandaVision’s Emmys omission. 

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WandaVision’s nominations were a meaningful milestone for Marvel and Disney+, but getting their shows to a major victory may prove an uphill battle. 

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