Snubbed By Oscars, ‘Will & Harper,’ ‘Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story’ Score Multiple Emmy Nominations

Will & Harper and Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story missed out on Oscar nominations, but they got their due this morning from Television Academy voters.

Will & Harper, the story of Will Ferrell and his friend Harper Steele who embarked on a road trip after Harper came out as trans, earned five nominations, tied for the most in the nonfiction categories. The Netflix documentary, directed by Josh Greenbaum, will compete in the premier category of Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special where it will go up against Deaf President Now!, Martha, Pee-wee As Himself, and Sly Lives! (Aka The Burden Of Black Genius). Scroll for the full list of documentary category nominations.

Kristen Wiig, overlooked for an Oscar nomination for her song from Will & Harper, made up for that with an Emmy nomination for “Will and Harper Go West.” She shares co-writing credit on that song with Greenbaum and Sean Douglas, who also earned nominations.

Along with Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, Will & Harper earned nominations for its cinematography, Josh Greenbaum’s directing, and picture editing.

“I’m very proud of it. I mean, I’ve been proud of this film since it got created, and I’m happy that this will bring it maybe even a bigger audience,” Harper Steele told Deadline this morning, acknowledging a bit of a residual sting from the Oscar oversight – Will & Harper made the shortlist, but fell short of an Academy Award nomination. “I was disappointed with the Oscar snub, but yeah, who knows the inner workings of the doc branch of the Oscars. I don’t, but I’m happy to see that people still think highly of the film.”

Steele, who served as head writer at Saturday Night Live, where she formed bonds with Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig and other SNL talents, shared her thoughts on Wiig being recognized for her tender and amusing song from Will & Harper.

“[I’m] very happy Kristen was involved in this project. I have a special place in my heart for her,” Steele said. Noting Wiig’s songwriting ability, she added, “She’s unsurprisingly talented at this point.”

Steele also saluted Greenbaum for earning recognition for his direction. “You have to be happy for all the blood and sweat that went into it, that basically Will and I had nothing to do with,” she noted. “We just drove.”

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, an in-depth look at the late Superman star, earned an impressive four Emmy nominations, including recognition for directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui. The film, from HBO Max and DC Studios, also earned recognition for writing, picture editing, and Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score).

The Super/Man Emmy love comes as another actor dons the red cape and boots – David Corenswet, starring in the James Gunn-directed Superman, which is off to a flying start at the box office ($220m worldwide and climbing). Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story not only examines the actor’s iconic take on Clark Kent and the Man of Steel, but on his activism on behalf of people with disabilities after he became paralyzed in a horse-riding accident. The documentary features his children, Matthew, Alexandra, and Will.

For timeliness, Will & Harper could hardly be more newsworthy. Donald Trump ran for a second term as president in part on stigmatizing trans and nonbinary people (one of his ad’s declared “Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you”). In an executive order he issued shortly after taking office again, Trump barked, “Medical professionals are maiming and sterilizing a growing number of impressionable children under the radical and false claim that adults can change a child’s sex.” And on June 18, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law that restricted trans minors’ access to medical treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

The immediacy of Will & Harper isn’t lost on Steele.

“This is why I want the film to be out there and promoted in any possible way. I think there’s a misunderstanding around trans people in general, but that’s probably due to fear mongering more than people’s understanding or people’s knowledge of trans people,” Steele observed. “And the fear mongering is deep and has been long lasting even before the Trump administration. I don’t know what this film can actually do, but in some small way, I hope it adds to the conversation that allows people to understand that there is nothing to fear with trans people. Nothing at all.”

Final Emmy voting takes place from August 18-27. The documentary category winners will be revealed at the Creative Arts Emmys on September 6 and 7 (highlights will air Sept. 13 on FXX). The main Primetime Emmy ceremony will be held Sept. 14, airing on CBS and Paramount+.

These are the nominations in the documentary categories:

Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special

Deaf President Now! • Apple TV+ • Apple / Concordia Studio

Amanda Rohlke, Produced by

Davis Guggenheim, Produced by

Jonathan King, Produced by

Nyle DiMarco, Produced by

Michael Harte, Produced by

Wayne Betts Jr., Producer

Laurene Powell Jobs, Executive Producer

Martha • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary / A This Machine Production

R.J. Cutler, Produced by

Trevor Smith, Produced by

Jane Cha Cutler, Produced by

Alina Cho, Produced by

Austin Wilkin, Produced by

Elise Pearlstein, Executive Producer

Mark Blatty, Executive Producer

Pee-wee As Himself • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents an Elara & First Love Films production

Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Producer/Executive Producer

Matt Wolf, Executive Producer

Ronald Bronstein, Executive Producer

Benny Safdie, Executive Producer

Josh Safdie, Executive Producer

Paul Reubens, Executive Producer

Candace Tomarken, Executive Producer

Sly Lives! (Aka The Burden Of Black Genius) • Hulu • MRC, Network Entertainment Inc., Two One Five Entertainment Inc., RadicalMedia, Stardust Films LLC, ID8 Multimedia Inc., and Sony Music Entertainment

Joseph Patel, Produced by

Derik Murray, Produced by

Amit Dey, Executive Producer

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Executive Producer

Zarah Zohlman, Executive Producer

Shawn Gee, Executive Producer

Will & Harper • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary / A Wayfarer Studios Film / A Delirio Films Production / A Gloria Sanchez Production

Rafael Marmor, Produced by

Christopher Leggett, Produced by

Will Ferrell, Produced by

Jessica Elbaum, Produced by

Josh Greenbaum, Produced by

Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series

Chef’s Table • Netflix • Boardwalk Pictures and David Gelb Planetarium for Netflix

Andrew Lloyd Bank, Producer

Michael Hilliard, Producer

Drew Palombi, Producer

Talin P. Middleton, Producer

David Gelb, Executive Producer

Andrew Fried, Executive Producer

Brian McGinn, Executive Producer

Danny O’Malley, Executive Producer

Dane Lillegard, Co-Executive Producer

100 Foot Wave • HBO | Max • HBO Presents, Topic Studios, Library Films, Amplify Pictures

Vincent Kardasik, Producer

Ryan Heller, Executive Producer

Michael Bloom, Executive Producer

Maria Zuckerman, Executive Producer

Zach Rothfeld, Executive Producer

Joe Lewis, Executive Producer

Chris Smith, Executive Producer

Nancy Abraham, Executive Producer

Lisa Heller, Executive Producer

Bentley Weiner, Executive Producer

Simone Biles Rising • Netflix • Religion of Sports in association with the Olympic Channel for Netflix

Jemele Hill, Producer

Gotham Chopra, Executive Producer

Giselle Parets, Executive Producer

Ameeth Sankaran, Executive Producer

Janey Miller, Executive Producer

Yiannis Exarchos, Executive Producer

JT Taylor, Executive Producer

Katie Walsh, Executive Producer

Jérôme Parmentier, Executive Producer

David Herren, Executive Producer

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night • Peacock • Peacock Original, Tremolo Productions

Jonathan Formica, Producer

Allison Klein, Producer

Morgan Neville, Executive Producer

Caitrin Rogers, Executive Producer

Juaquin Cambron, Executive Producer

Nora Chute, Supervising Producer

Darling Higgins, Line Producer

Zach Greenspan, Line Producer

Social Studies • FX on Hulu • Institute and FX Productions

Lauren Greenfield, Produced by/Executive Producer

Frank Evers, Produced by/Executive Producer

Wallis Annenberg, Executive Producer

Regina K. Scully, Executive Producer

Andrea Van Beuren, Executive Producer

Caryn Capotosto, Executive Producer

Julie Frankel, Supervising Producer

Jennifer Kobzik, Line Producer

Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series Or Special

Conan O’Brien Must Go • HBO | Max • Max in association with Conaco

Conan O’Brien, Executive Producer/Host

Jeff Ross, Executive Producer

José Arroyo, Producer

Jason Chillemi, Producer

Sarah Federowicz, Producer

Jessie Gaskell, Producer

Mike Sweeney, Producer

Aaron Bleyaert, Supervising Producer

Jordan Schlansky, Supervising Producer

Matthew Shaw, Series Producer

The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers The Pulse: MAGA: The Next Generation • Comedy Central • Hello Doggie, Inc.

Jordan Klepper, Executive Producer/Host

Abby Arora, Producer

Jessie Kanevsky, Producer

Ian Berger, Executive Producer

Jennifer Flanz, Executive Producer

Zhubin Parang, Co-Executive Producer

Sushil Dayal, Supervising Producer

Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr. • PBS • A production of McGee Media, Inkwell Media and Kunhardt Films, in association with WETA Washington, D.C.

Kevin Burke, Producer

CeCe Moore, Producer

Henry Gates Jr., Executive Producer/Host

Dyllan McGee, Executive Producer

Peter Kunhardt, Executive Producer

Deborah Porfido, Supervising Producer

Sabin Streeter, Senior Producer

Natalia Warchol, Series Producer

Robert Yacyshyn, Line Producer

My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman • Netflix • Jax Media and Worldwide Pants, Inc. for Netflix

Tommy Alter, Producer

John Nemeth, Producer

Isabel Richardson, Producer

Tom Keaney, Executive Producer

Mary Barclay, Executive Producer

Michael Steed, Executive Producer

Séamus Murphy-Mitchell, Executive Producer

Justin Wilkes, Executive Producer

Jake Fuller, Executive Producer

Halavah Sofsky, Line Producer

Tucci In Italy • National Geographic • BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions and Salt Productions for National Geographic

Francesco Ficarra, Producer

Yari Lorenzo, Producer

Stanley Tucci, Executive Producer/Host

Lottie Birmingham, Executive Producer

Amanda Lyon, Executive Producer

Simon Raikes, Executive Producer

Ben Jessop, Co-Executive Producer

Mandy Weller, Line Producer

Stephanie Stoltzfus, Line Producer

Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking

I Am: Celine Dion • Prime Video • Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Music Entertainment, Vermilion Films

Tom Mackay, Produced by

Julie Begey Seureau, Produced by

Irene Taylor, Produced by

Dave Platel, Executive Producer

Denis Savage, Executive Producer

Shane Carter, Executive Producer

Krista Wegener, Executive Producer

Patrice: The Movie • Hulu • All Ages Productions, ABC News Studios, ESS Projects, Cedar Road

Ted Passon, Director & Executive Producer

Kyla Harris, Producer

Innbo Shim, Producer

Emily Spivack, Producer

David Sloan, Senior Executive Producer

Claire Weinraub, Executive Producer

Poh Si Teng, Executive Producer

The Remarkable Life Of Ibelin • Netflix • Medieoperatørene and VGTV for Netflix

Benjamin Ree, Director

Ingvil Giske, Producer

Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program

Deaf President Now! • Apple TV+ • Apple / Concordia Studio

Nyle DiMarco, Directed by

Davis Guggenheim, Directed by

Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years Of SNL Music • NBC • Two One Five Entertainment, RadicalMedia, Broadway Video

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Directed by

Oz Rodríguez, Directed by

Pee-wee As Himself • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents an Elara & First Love Films production

Matt Wolf, Directed by

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story • HBO | Max • DC Studios presents in association with HBO Documentary Films and CNN Films in association with Words+Pictures, a Passion Pictures and Misfits Entertainment production in association with Jenco Films

Ian Bonhôte, Directed by

Peter Ettedgui, Directed by

Will & Harper • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary / A Wayfarer Studios Film / A Delirio Films Production / A Gloria Sanchez Production

Josh Greenbaum, Directed by

Outstanding Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program

Chef’s Table • Jamie Oliver • Netflix • Boardwalk Pictures and David Gelb Planetarium for Netflix

Adam Bricker, ASC, Director of Photography

100 Foot Wave • Chapter III – Cortes Bank • HBO | Max • HBO Presents, Topic Studios, Library Films, Amplify Pictures

Michael Darrigade, Cinematography by

Vincent Kardasik, Cinematography by

Alexandre Lesbats, Cinematography by

Laurent Pujol, Cinematography by

Karl Sandrock, Cinematography by

Chris Smith, Cinematography by

Ren Faire • Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got The Will? • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents a production of Elara Pictures in association with To Be Formed and Widow’s Peak

Nate Hurtsellers, Director of Photography

Tucci In Italy • Tuscany • National Geographic • BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions and Salt Productions for National Geographic

Matt Ball, Director of Photography

Will & Harper • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary / A Wayfarer Studios Film / A Delirio Films Production / A Gloria Sanchez Production

Zoë White, ACS, Director of Photography

Outstanding Picture Editing For A Nonfiction Program

Chimp Crazy • Gone Ape • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents A Goode Films Production

Evan Wise, ACE, Supervising Editor

Charles Divak, ACE, Editor

Adrienne Gits, ACE, Editor

Doug Abel, ACE, BFE, Editor

Sascha Stanton-Craven, Additional Editor

Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years Of SNL Music • NBC • Two One Five Entertainment, RadicalMedia, Broadway Video

James Lester, Editor

Oz Rodríguez, Editor

F. Michael Young, Additional Editor

Pee-wee As Himself • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents an Elara & First Love Films production

Damian Rodriguez, Editor

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night • More Cowbell • Peacock • Peacock Original, Tremolo Productions

Cori Wapnowska, Editor

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story • HBO | Max • DC Studios presents in association with HBO Documentary Films and CNN Films in association with Words+Pictures, a Passion Pictures and Misfits Entertainment production in association with Jenco Films

Otto Burnham, Editor

Will & Harper • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary / A Wayfarer Studios Film / A Delirio Films Production / A Gloria Sanchez Production

Monique Zavistovski, ACE, Editor

Lori Lovoy-Goran, Additional Editor

Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary Series Or Special (Original Dramatic Score)

The Americas • Andes • NBC • BBC Studios Natural History Unit in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio

Hans Zimmer, Composer

Anže Rozman, Composer

Kara Talve, Composer

Chef’s Table • José Andrés • Netflix • Boardwalk Pictures and David Gelb Planetarium for Netflix

Duncan Thum, Composer

David Bertok, Composer

Leonardo Da Vinci • PBS • Florentine Films & WETA

Caroline Shaw, Composer

Planet Earth: Asia • Beneath The Waves • BBC America • A BBC Studios Natural History Unit production co-produced with BBC America and ZDF for BBC

Jacob Shea, Composer

Laurentia Editha, Composer

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story • HBO | Max • DC Studios presents in association with HBO Documentary Films and CNN Films in association with Words+Pictures, a Passion Pictures and Misfits Entertainment production in association with Jenco Films

Ilan Eshkeri, Composer

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Nonfiction Or Reality Program

Beatles ’64 • Disney+ • Apple Corps Ltd.

Philip Stockton, Supervising Sound Editor

Allan Zaleski, Sound Effects Editor

John M. Davis, Music Editor

Music By John Williams • Disney+ • Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Dmitri Makarov, Dialogue Editor

Tim Farrell, Sound Effects Editor

Richard Gould, Sound Effects Editor

Ramiro Belgardt, Music Editor

100 Foot Wave • Chapter III – Cortes Bank • HBO | Max • HBO Presents, Topic Studios, Library Films, Amplify Pictures

Kevin Senzaki, MPSE, Sound Designer/Sound Effects Editor

Eric Di Stefano, Sound Designer/Sound Effects Editor

Max Holland, Dialogue Editor

Eli Akselrod, Sound Effects Editor

Mika Anami, Sound Effects Editor

Pee-wee As Himself • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents an Elara & First Love Films production

Daniel Timmons, Supervising Sound Editor

Ian Cymore, Dialogue Editor

Ryan Billia, Sound Effects Editor

Jeremy S. Bloom, Sound Effects Editor

Kelly Rodriguez, Sound Effects Editor

Eric Caudieux, Music Editor

Jonathan Zalben, Music Editor

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night • Season 11: The Weird Year • Peacock • Peacock Original, Tremolo Productions

William Harp, Dialogue Editor

Sean Gray, Sound Effects Editor

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Nonfiction Program

Beatles ’64 • Disney+ • Apple Corps Ltd.

Josh Berger, Re-Recording Mixer

Giles Martin, Re-Recording Music Mixer

Music By John Williams • Disney+ • Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Roy Waldspurger, Re-Recording Mixer

Christopher Barnett, CAS, Re-Recording Mixer

Noah Alexander, Production Mixer

100 Foot Wave • Chapter III – Cortes Bank • HBO | Max • HBO Presents, Topic Studios, Library Films, Amplify Pictures

Keith Hodne, Re-Recording Mixer

Pee-wee As Himself • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents an Elara & First Love Films production

Johnny Mathie, Production Mixer

Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary (Music Box) • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents a Ringer Films Production in association with Margot Station

Tony Solis, Re-Recording Mixer

Paul Stula, Production Mixer

Barry London, Production Mixer

Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program

Chimp Crazy • Head Shot • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents A Goode Films Production

Eric Goode, Written by

Jeremy McBride, Written by

Timothy Moran, Written by

Evan Wise, Written by

Adrienne Gits, Written by

Conan O’Brien Must Go • Austria • HBO | Max • Max in association with Conaco

Conan O’Brien, Written by

Mike Sweeney, Written by

Jessie Gaskell, Written by

José Arroyo, Written by

The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers The Pulse: MAGA: The Next Generation • Comedy Central • Hello Doggie, Inc.

Ian Berger, Writer

Jordan Klepper, Writer

Jennifer Flanz, Writer

Devin Delliquanti, Writer

Scott Sherman, Writer

Martha • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary / A This Machine Production

R.J. Cutler, Written by

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story • HBO | Max • DC Studios presents in association with HBO Documentary Films and CNN Films in association with Words+Pictures, a Passion Pictures and Misfits Entertainment production in association with Jenco Films

Peter Ettedgui, Written by

Ian Bonhôte, Written by

Otto Burnham, Written by

Outstanding Narrator

Planet Earth: Asia • The Frozen North • BBC America • A BBC Studios Natural History Unit production co-produced with BBC America and ZDF for BBC

Sir David Attenborough, Narrator

Erased: WW2’s Heroes Of Color • D-Day • National Geographic • October Films, 22 Summers

Idris Elba, Narrator

The Americas • Andes • NBC • BBC Studios Natural History Unit in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio

Tom Hanks, Narrator

Our Oceans • Indian Ocean • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary Series / A Wild Space Production in association with Freeborne Media and Higher Ground

Barack Obama, Narrator

Octopus! • Part 1 • Prime Video • Amazon MGM Studios, Jigsaw Productions, Wells Street Films

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Narrator