Los Angeles (AFP)
Princess Diana against bounty hunter: the duel promises to be merciless Sunday night between "The Crown" and "The Mandalorian" who will compete for the Emmy Award for best drama series, flagship award of these Oscars of television American.
If the Netflix series devoted to the British royal family wins against the heavyweight of the Star Wars universe, the video on demand platform will finally have achieved the consecration that had eluded it for so many years.
In addition to the fourth season of "The Crown", Netflix can also count on "The game of the lady" which has exploded the registrations in chess clubs.
This planetary success, with Anya Taylor-Joy as a tormented chess prodigy, is given favorite in the limited series category (which is not meant to last more than one season).
"+ The Crown + finally seems to be on the verge of having its big moment," Clayton Davis, prizes and awards specialist for entertainment benchmark Variety magazine, told AFP.
“It's going to be the first big win for the Netflix series,” he predicts.
The video-on-demand giant is also lining up for the Emmy Awards "The Chronicle of the Bridgertons", a period costume series, as well as a naturalistic documentary with the indestructible David Attenborough.
If Netflix collected the nominations, the video on demand giant has so far never won an Emmy Award in the prestigious categories VALERIE MACON AFP / Archives
While Netflix revolutionized television with its streaming service which launched in 2007 and collected nominations, it has so far never won an Emmy Award in the prestigious categories of Best Drama, Best Comedy or Best Limited Series.
For Pete Hammond, columnist for the specialist site Deadline, Sunday evening should be "a turning point" for the platform.
- Disney + in ambush -
A potential spoiler is however invited to the Emmy Awards: Disney +, a streaming platform launched two years ago by the world number one in entertainment, with in its catalog the successful characters from the universe of Star Wars and super -Marvel heroes.
A darling of the American public when it arrived on the screens, the "baby Yoda" allowed the series "The Mandalorian" to compete with "The Crown" at the top of the nominations (24 each).
The other outsider some pundits are betting on for Best Drama Series is "Pose," starring Billy Porter, which explores gay and trans dance culture in 1980s New York City and in which star Elton John made an appearance. surprise.
Disney + has a strong trump card in the limited series category with the highly inventive "WandaVision", which has won the reviews.
On her way will be "Mare of Easttown" - another critical hit starring Kate Winslet as a disillusioned policewoman - and British production "I May Destroy You", which chronicles the aftermath of rape.
As for comedies, "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV +) takes the lead, also with a nomination for its main actor Jason Sudeikis, as an American football coach totally lost when he takes the helm of a football team. English.
Actor Jason Sudeikis attends the "Ted Lasso" Season 2 premiere on July 15, 2021 in Hollywood VALERIE MACON AFP / Archives
Last year, for lack of vaccine available, the night of the Emmy Awards had been 100% virtual - and relatively disappointing - with stars receiving their trophy at home.
This 73rd edition marks the start of a return to normal, with some 500 hand-picked guests admitted to the open air next to an auditorium in Los Angeles, with a vaccination certificate required.
"Making sick such a crowd of celebrities is not on the program," joked Ian Stewart, producer of the evening, still promising Variety magazine "a fun and chic party."
The pandemic and the restrictions imposed by the United States on travelers from certain countries, however, complicate the organization and some foreign stars, such as the team of "The Crown", should follow the ceremony via a satellite beam from London.
Although many stars are expected in person on Sunday, others like Jennifer Aniston, vying for the reunion of the former "Friends", have decided to keep their distance for health reasons, while the reduced capacity means that some other candidates did not even receive an invitation card.
The ceremony begins at 5:00 p.m. local time (Monday 00:00 GMT) and will be hosted by comedian Cedric the Entertainer.
© 2021 AFP