Game of Thrones: Why HBO didn't submit Gwendoline Christine, Alfie Allen, Carice van Houten for Emmys REVEALED

Game of Thrones made history when they received a staggering 32 nominations for season 8 at Emmys 2019. The series has dethroned NYPD Blue for the record number of Emmy nominations for a single season. When it comes to the acting categories, Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke received Lead Actor and Lead Actress nominations. In the Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress categories, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Alfie Allen, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, Gwendoline Christie received recognition. Even Carice van Houten procured a Guest Star nomination.

However, in what came as a shocking surprise, Gwendoline, Alfie and Carice self-submitted for the Emmys 2019. HBO received some backlash for not submitting the trio's names who received praise for their performance in season 8. HBO's programming head, Casey Bloys spoke at TCA's Summer Press Tour event where he addressed Christie, Allen and van Houten's self-submission. Talking about how Game of Thrones is "unique" because of its large-sized series regulars, Casey confessed, "The challenge of a series that big is if everybody submitted themselves... everybody could cancel out the entire show. So, there's strategic thinking in terms of how to submit and who to submit."

I CANT BELIEVE IT!!!!!!????!?!!?!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #EmmyAwards #CANITTRULYBEREAL??????????

While the trio did submit themselves, Bloys shared that they did assist them and their reps during the submission. "And I think it's the first time that anybody who ever self-submitted was nominated, so I think it's great," Casey concluded.

ALSO READ: Emmys 2019 Nominations List: Game of Thrones, Chernobyl and Saturday Night Live lead the pack

Meanwhile, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Nikolaj shared that GOT's record-breaking 32 Emmy nominations validate the writing of season 8, which has been heavily criticised by the fans.