In an exciting turn of events, HBO Max has once again made headlines at the Emmy Awards, securing a remarkable win for Outstanding Drama Series with its hit show, The Pitt. This victory marks the second consecutive year that HBO Max has triumphed in the final Emmy category of the night, following last year’s win for Outstanding Comedy Series with Hacks. This year, The Pitt faced fierce competition from Apple TV+’s critically acclaimed series, Severance, which garnered the highest number of nominations in 2025.
“It was obviously a huge night for The Pitt,” expressed Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max Content, during a post-Emmy celebration at San Vicente Bungalows. HBO Max tied with Netflix for the most Emmy wins this year, achieving a staggering total of 30 awards, including five for The Pitt. The series, created by ER veterans John Wells, R. Scott Gemmill, and Noah Wyle, received accolades for Drama Series, Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Wyle, Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Katherine LaNasa, Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Shawn Hatosy, and Casting for a Drama Series.
Bloys highlighted the innovative production model of The Pitt, which consists of a modest budget and larger seasons with 15 episodes each—a significant increase compared to the average for streaming dramas. “To come out first season, not only to get nominated and to have Katherine and Noah win, but for the show to win, that’s a huge deal,” Bloys noted, expressing pride in the show's achievements. The second season of The Pitt is expected to premiere in January 2026, one year after its debut.
Among the unexpected winners at the Emmys was Jeff Hiller from Somebody Somewhere, who received recognition for his performance in the underrated HBO comedy. Hannah Einbinder also celebrated her first Emmy win after four seasons on Hacks, alongside lead Jean Smart, who secured her fourth award. “I was very pleasantly surprised to see Jeff recognized, and I was just thrilled for it to be acknowledged tonight,” Bloys remarked.
On the other hand, Colin Farrell faced disappointment for his role in The Penguin, failing to win as many had anticipated. In addition, The White Lotus, despite receiving six nominations, did not secure wins in the Supporting Actor/Actress categories. “I do think that The White Lotus may have been a victim of its own success,” Bloys commented, reflecting on the unpredictable nature of award shows.
During a spontaneous interview, David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, complimented Bloys, stating, “HBO has never been this strong.” Since Bloys took charge in 2016, HBO has consistently won at least one major scripted category each year, with the exception of 2021, which was affected by the pandemic. “I just want to celebrate what the team has done across the board,” Bloys added, acknowledging the organization’s diverse range of high-quality content.
In other exciting news, it has been confirmed that the upcoming fourth season of The White Lotus will take place in France. “France for sure but details and location TBD,” Bloys stated, addressing speculation surrounding the series' future. Meanwhile, creator Mike White was absent from the Emmy ceremony, rumored to be in France working on the new season.
As for the highly anticipated fifth season of True Detective, there are ongoing discussions about Nicolas Cage taking the lead role, although no official confirmation has been made. “I can’t comment on that but I’m a fan of Nic Cage,” Bloys said diplomatically. Additionally, House of the Dragon is set to return in early summer 2026, with Season 4 of Industry and a new Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, slated for January premieres.
There has been some confusion regarding the fate of Hacks, with Einbinder mentioning that Season 5 may be the series' last. However, she later clarified that the final decision lies with the creators. Bloys noted that the team has not received any confirmation regarding the end of the Emmy-winning comedy. Similarly, the third season of Euphoria is expected to fit into the 2026 Emmy eligibility window, with Bloys acknowledging the challenges of scheduling given the star-studded cast.
As HBO Max moves forward into the 2026 Emmy eligibility window, they have already introduced potential contenders, including Season 3 of The Gilded Age and the limited series Task. “I go into next year with the drama frontrunner, because The Pitt is back in January,” Bloys stated confidently, hinting at a strong lineup for the upcoming awards season.
