Emmy Predictions 2017: Who Will Likely Get Nominated for Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie?

From June 12 to June 26, voting is taking place for The 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. To add to the excitement of the past year in television, I'm providing analysis on which shows and performers are likely to get nominated this year. Next up is Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie.

2016 Nominees:

        Bryan Cranston for HBO's All the Way
        Benedict Cumberbatch for PBS' Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
        Idris Elba for BBC America's Luther
        Cuba Gooding Jr. for FX's The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
        Tom Hiddleston for AMC's The Night Manager
        Courtney B. Vance for FX's The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (WINNER)

This category is surprisingly light compared to the rest of the acting fields for Limited Series or TV Movie. There are probably only 8-9 performances that actually have a shot and none of them are all that exciting. So, that makes this one of the more tame categories for the year. It wouldn't be shocking to see the six actors I've named get nominated. But it wouldn't be surprising if that sixth slot goes to someone unexpected either. Meanwhile, I enjoyed The Night Of and Fargo but am still struggling to get that excited about this race.

So now, here's my thoughts on the performers must likely to be nominated for Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie:

1. Robert De Niro for HBO's The Wizard of Lies
2. Benedict Cumberbatch for PBS' Sherlock: The Lying Detective
3. John Turturro for HBO's The Night Of
4. Riz Ahmed for HBO's The Night Of
5. Ewan McGregor for FX's Fargo
6. Geoffrey Rush for National Geographic's Genius

And now, for some serious threats that could break into the list:

1. Timothy Hutton for ABC's American Crime
2. Jude Law for HBO's The Young Pope
3. Ricky Gervais for Netflix's David Brent: Life on the Road
4. Guy Pearce for ABC's When We Rise
5. Tim Matheson for National Geographic's Killing Reagan
6. Babou Ceesay for Showtime's Guerrilla

Some considerable long-shots:

1. Laurence Fishburne for BET's Madiba
2. Harvey Fierstein for NBC's Hairspray Live!
3. Michael Gambon for PBS' Churchill's Secret
4. Toby Jones for Acorn's Agatha Christie's The Witness for the Prosecution
5. Alex Lawther for Netflix's Black Mirror: Shut Up and Dance
6. Jonathan Groff for HBO's Looking: The Movie
7. Paul Schneider for Syfy's Channel Zero: Candle Cove

And now, just some colorful oddities who still have an outside chance:

1. Chris Gethard for HBO's Chris Gethard: Career Suicide
2. Michiel Huisman for Discovery's Harley and the Davidsons
3. Vincent D'Onofrio for NBC's Emerald City
4. Chad Michael Murray for CMT's Sun Records
5. James Paxton and Tyler Young for USA's Eyewitness
6. Colt Prattes for ABC's Dirty Dancing

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Let me know in the comments below!