At the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, HBO’s The Penguin emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners, seizing eight trophies across the limited series categories. The crime drama, a spinoff of Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022), has already earned praise for Colin Farrell’s transformative performance as Oswald “Oz” Cobb, and its latest recognition cements its place as a powerhouse in television production.
Among the awards, The Penguin excelled in categories that underscored its cinematic flair, including prosthetic makeup, visual effects, and sound design. Farrell’s unrecognizable turn under heavy prosthetics had already won him a Golden Globe, but the Emmy recognition for the craft teams highlighted the behind-the-scenes artistry that brought Gotham’s underworld to life. As a series steeped in crime drama aesthetics, its technical polish was essential, and voters took notice.
The series follows Oz Cobb’s ruthless rise to power in Gotham City, exploring the void left by crime bosses after the events of The Batman. Produced by DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television, the show has been praised for its writing, direction, and grounded tone that balances superhero lore with gangster storytelling. Colin Farrell, serving as both star and executive producer, helped steer the project into an eight-episode miniseries that critics have called “one of DC’s best ventures into long-form television.”
While The Penguin led the limited series categories, the evening also belonged to other major players. Julie Andrews, at 89, took home her third Emmy for her voice-over work in Netflix’s Bridgerton, her first since 2005. Apple TV+’s Hollywood satire The Studio claimed nine wins, largely in cinematography, casting, and production design, while Netflix’s Adolescence and Disney+’s Andor earned smaller but notable victories.
Still, the dominance of The Penguin carried a sense of momentum heading into the Primetime Emmys. Its eight craft awards, spanning from design to technical achievement, positioned the Gotham saga as a frontrunner among limited series contenders. With Farrell’s acclaimed performance at the center, and a production team that has already proven its Emmy-worthiness, the show has solidified HBO’s standing in the streaming competition.
The Creative Arts Emmys, where nearly 100 trophies are distributed across two nights, set the stage for the Primetime Emmy Awards, scheduled to air live on September 14 on CBS. If Saturday’s wins are any indication, The Penguin may not just be a supporting act to The Batman but a defining force in the modern DC television landscape.
This is a big win for DC, who agrees?