Will ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace’ be the latest Ryan Murphy production to dominate Best Supporting Actor at the Emmys?

The television academy’s acting branch has a love affair with Ryan Murphy productions, which earn multiple Emmy nominations for their performances year after year. “The Assassination of Gianni Versace,” the second installment of Murphy’s “American Crime Story” anthology series, now enters the Emmy race and could dominate the Best Movie/Mini Supporting Actor category just like “The Normal Heart” and “The People v. O.J. Simpson” did.

Having multiple nominees from the same series or movie can yield mixed results. Before Murphy began his anthology empire Mike Nichols‘s “Angels In America” scored four out of the five available slots for Best Movie/Mini Supporting Actor in 2004: Justin Kirk, Ben Shenkman, Patrick Wilson and Jeffrey Wright were joined by William H. Macy (“Stealing Sinatra”). Macy was unable to stop the “Angels In America” juggernaut, so Wright took home the Emmy for playing Belize and Mr. Lies, the same role that won him a Tony Award in 1994 for the original Broadway production of “Angels.”

But Murphy’s productions have been hit-and-miss when they have dominated the category. His passion project “The Normal Heart” earned four of the six available nominations in the category in 2014: Matt Bomer, Joe Mantello, Alfred Molina and Jim Parsons. Bomer was the presumed favorite for playing dying reporter Felix Turner, but Martin Freeman pulled off a shocking upset for “Sherlock: His Last Vow.” Freeman probably benefited from Colin Hanks rounding out the six nominees for his role in “Fargo.” Freeman also co-starred in “Fargo,” which allowed voters to see him in two drastically different roles.

Two years later “The People v. O.J. Simpson” scored three out of the six nominations for Best Movie/Mini Supporting Actor: Sterling K. Brown, David Schwimmer and John Travolta. Even though Schwimmer and Travolta were better known at the time, Brown’s breakthrough performance as prosecutor Christopher Darden brought him the Emmy.

Will “Versace” do just as well in the nominations? And if so, will one of its supporting actors win? Let’s take a look at the top five actors from the limited series trying to make the Emmy lineup and their current odds according to the combined predictions of Gold Derby users.

Edgar Ramirez: 1st place with odds of 7/2

Ramirez is a past Emmy nominee for “Carlos” (Best Movie/Mini Actor, 2011). Despite playing the titular character in “Versace,” he’s not the central focus of the series, but he does have an Emmy I.O.U. to cash in after his surprise loss to Barry Pepper (“The Kennedys”) seven years ago.

Ricky Martin: 7th place with odds of 25/1

Martin plays Antonio D’Amico, Versace’s long-time partner. He’s right on the bubble to score his first Emmy nomination, though like Ramirez his character does not have a singular showcase episode. But if the Grammy winning musician does take home the Emmy it will put him at the halfway point to a career EGOT.

Jon Jon Briones: 15th place with odds of 100/1

Briones appears as the controlling and manipulative Modesto Cunanan, the father of spree killer Andrew Cunanan (Darren Criss). Briones is best known for his work on stage as The Engineer in the musical “Miss Saigon.” The Philippines native has a stellar acting showcase in the episode “Creator/Destroyer,” where he abuses his wife and son and commits financial fraud. Criss only appears towards the end of the episode, so it rests almost solely on Briones shoulders, giving him the opportunity to truly carry a storyline.

Cody Fern: 19th place with odds of 100/1

Fern plays Cunanan’s second victim and one-time friend David Madson. The Australian actor only had seven credits to his name before giving his breakthrough performance in the fourth episode of “Versace,” “House by the Lake,” in which his character is taken hostage and forced to go on the road with Cunanan. While Fern doesn’t have the name-recognition of his rivals, that didn’t stop Sterling K. Brown two years ago.

Finn Wittrock: 20th place with odds of 100/1

Wittrock is a previous Emmy nominee for his breakthrough performance in another Murphy production, “American Horror Story: Freak Show” (2015), in which he played serial killer Dandy Mott. This time he plays a murder victim: Jeffrey Trail, the first man killed by Cunanan. Like Fern and Briones he’s given an episode in which his character is the predominant focus: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” in which Trail deals with the pain and shame of hiding his sexuality to keep his career in the Navy. Trail befriends Cunanan and eventually confronts him about his lies and manipulation before Cunanan fatally turns on Trail. Should Wittrock score another Emmy nomination, will he win on his second try?

Will ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace’ be the latest Ryan Murphy production to dominate Best Supporting Actor at the Emmys?

Best Variety Talk Series – Feinberg Forecast: T-Minus 3 Weeks Until Emmy Nomination Voting

Best Limited Series

FRONTRUNNERS

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)
The Looming Tower (Hulu)
Godless (Netflix)
Patrick Melrose (Showtime)
Twin Peaks (Showtime)

Best Actor in a Limited Series or a Television Movie

FRONTRUNNERS

Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story)
John Legend (Jesus Christ Superstar)
Jeff Daniels (The Looming Tower) — podcast
Al Pacino (Paterno)
Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose) — podcast
Antonio Banderas (Genius: Picasso)

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Television Movie

FRONTRUNNERS

Jeff Daniels (Godless) — podcast
Brandon Victor Dixon (Jesus Christ Superstar)
Edgar Ramirez (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story)
Tahar Rahim (The Looming Tower)
Peter Sarsgaard (The Looming Tower)
Bill Camp (The Looming Tower)

MAJOR THREATS

Ricky Martin (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story)
Sam Waterston (Godless)
Scoot McNairy (Godless)
Alex Rich (Genius: Picasso)
Michael Stuhlbarg (The Looming Tower)
Michael Shannon (Fahrenheit 451) — podcast
Robert Forster (Twin Peaks)
Hugo Weaving (Patrick Melrose)

POSSIBILITIES

Beau Bridges (Mosaic)
Cody Fern (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story)
Alice Cooper (Jesus Christ Superstar)
Dylan Baker (Little Women)
Luke Evans (The Alienist)
John Leguizamo (Waco)
Jason Ritter (The Tale)

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Television Movie

FRONTRUNNERS

Merritt Wever (Godless)
Laura Dern (Twin Peaks)
Nicole Kidman (Top of the Lake: China Girl) — podcast
Penelope Cruz (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story)
Judith Light (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story)

Angela Lansbury (Little Women)

Best Variety Talk Series – Feinberg Forecast: T-Minus 3 Weeks Until Emmy Nomination Voting

EXCLUSIVE: RICKY MARTIN

You recently teased your fans with a new single, “Fiebre”, when can we expect a new full length album?

I am thinking hopefully by the beginning of next year, but right now we have been pretty focused on the Vegas show and American Crime Story, which we were shooting for eight months. Today, the record company no longer needs the record out at a very specific time so the artists have more freedom, and if a song is ready then I can just release it. Obviously numbers are important in this industry, but it gives us an idea of what the audience likes or dislikes, and I have never felt more relaxed doing music.

Since you mentioned American Crime Story, how did you become involved and what made you say yes to the story?

A few years ago I had the opportunity to work with Ryan Murphy on an episode of Glee. We’ve kept in touch and he invited me to dinner to tell me that he thinks he has a role for me. Once I read the script I immediately said yes because it was personal. I knew I wanted to be a part of telling Versace’s story. I wanted to remind the viewers the injustice behind what happened. Because it’s not how Gianni Versace died, but how we allowed it to happen. What angers me most is that Cunanan was on the FBI’s Most Wanted List, living on Miami Beach which is a very small community, but the FBI turned the other way because he was a gay man killing gay men. There is no denying to me that this was really an issue of homophobia. I think we did a great job covering that aspect of the story.

I read that Ryan Murphy wants to give you your own show, any word on that project?

Well he told me about it and then made it public, and I got really excited! We haven’t spoken in detail about it because he is transitioning from one network to another and he told me that he will be busy until June, but I’m not in a rush. (laughs) I would love to do something behind the scenes as well. But no, we haven’t talked about it yet.

You brought up the issue of homophobia and it made me think of your new music video. “Fiebre” and of course American Crime Story both show you openly embracing your sexuality. After being forced into the closet for so long, how does it feel for you to finally be able to express being gay through your music videos and now your acting roles?

Amazing! If I could go back and come out in the late ‘90s or early 2000’s then I would, because it felt amazing to come out. When I talk to people who are struggling with their identity, I tell them that it may be bumpy for awhile but in the long run the love that I received from my friends, family, from social media…it was spectacular. I know this is not the case for everyone but at the end of the day it is about dignity and self love.

EXCLUSIVE: RICKY MARTIN

dcriss-archive:

sascha_breuer: FUN TIMES ON SET! Tunes, friends & laughter @edgarramirez25 @darrencriss @ricky_martin @penelopecruzoficial during the Cover shoot of Emmy Magazine shot by my talented fried @robertascroft #hair & #malegrooming for Edgar @sascha_breuer #hairbysaschabreuer using @baxterofca @starworksartists & @blossommanagement.gmbh #ACSVersace #edgarramirez #emmymagazine