Sci-Fi Storm

Some casting news this week…

Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen pilot for HBO added three more to the ranks this week, in the form of Dylan Schombing (Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce), Lily Rose Smith (The Vampire Diaries) and young newcomer Adelynn Spoon. They join an extensive list which includes Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Don Johnson, Frances Fisher and Louis Gossett Jr. Producers are tight-lipped about any characters though.

The eighth installment of FX’s horror anthology American Horror Story, subtitled “Apocalypse”, sees a bunch of familiar faces returning. Alums Gabourey Sidibe, Taissa Farmiga, Lily Rabe, Frances Conroy, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Evan Peters, Adina Porter, Emma Roberts, Cheyenne Jackson, Billy Eichner, Leslie Grossman, Billie Lourd, and Stevie Nicks will all join Jessica Lange, which director Ryan Murphy is billing as a crossover between the “Coven” and “Murder House” seasons. Joan Collins is also joining the cast this season.

And it appears that the DC TV Arrowverse will see a Gotham addition. Orange Is the New Black‘s Ruby Rose has signed on for the role of Batwoman for the next four-series Arrowverse crossover event this December, and is also expected to film a full-length pilot for a potential Batwoman TV series, which already looks like it will have a good chance of going to series.

It’s Emmy season, and the 2014 Emmy nominations are out – and we’re getting at least a little love in genre-related programming.

Among the major nominations (see the complete list here):

Game of Thrones picked up a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, along with Peter Dinklage getting a Supporting Actor nod for his role as Tyrion Lannister and Lena Headey getting a Supporting Actress nod for playing his sister Cersei Lannister. Headey will square off against former Robin Hood actress Joanne Froggatt and Professor McGonagall herself Maggie Smith, both nominated from Downton Abbey. Avengers star Diana Rigg also picked up an Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Lady Olenna Tyrell.

Game of Thrones also picked up Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series.

Big Bang Theory again puts up Jim Parsons for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, with Mayim Bialik again nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress, and Bob Newhart will defend his Guest Actor win from last year. The show also was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson will face each other in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Mini-series/Movie for American Horror Story: Coven, while Frances Conroy, Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett all represent in the Supporting actress category. The show also garnered the Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Directing nominations.

Notably absent was any nominations for Orphan Black, where by all accounts star Tatiana Maslany should have warranted a nomination.

As is typical, genre shows were largely ignored unless they have a HUGE following. Game of Thrones netted 11 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (for Peter Dinklage). American Horror Story received a whopping 17 nominations, tying Mad Men for overall noms. Sherlock received 13 for “A Scandal In Belgravia”, including Outstanding Miniseries or Movie, Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie (Benedict Cumberbatch), and Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie (Martin Freeman).

But perhaps the most surprising is what wasn’t nominated – The Walking Dead, which received no major nominations, getting just Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Series, Miniseries, Movie Or A Special, Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series and Outstanding Special Visual Effects.

The science fiction and fantasy genre seems to have taken a hit in the latest Golden Globe nominations. It don’t see anything in the Motion Picture awards at all aside from the animated features, which is very surprising given the major buzz about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. Harry Potter could still see an Oscar nod as the field is larger there, but it could mean it is a longshot at winning.

On the TV side, however, there were a few genre hits, notably Game Of Thrones receiving nods for “Best Television Series – Drama” and a “Best Supporting Actor” for Peter Dinklage, while American Horror Story also received one for “Best Television Series – Drama” and “Best Supporting Actress” for Jessica Lange.

SF-friendly show The Big Bang Theory saw a single nod for Johnny Galecki for “Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series – Comedy Or Musical”.

The complete nomination list is available at Deadline.