Widow’s Bay Star Stephen Root Reveals His No. 1 Request for Season 2

Widow's Bay Star Kate O'Flynn Reveals Advice From BFF Jonathan BaileyWidow’s Bay season two promises to be both worse than a spook and as bad as a fright. And while newly Emmy-awarded star Stephen Root—who plays the town’s superstitious eccentric Wyck—can’t give away any specific plot points for the Apple TV show’s next installment, he did reveal what he’s hoping will happen next for the show’s ensemble. “I asked for more backstory,” he told E! News backstage at the Emmys on Sept. 14 “I love having more information about the characters. Mine included, but everybody's.” After all, the series created by Katie Dippold is full of rich characters. Take Root’s character: While Wyck’s foreboding rants about the cursed island could have been written off as drunk ravings, it turns out he was actually right. About pretty much all of it. “It's like, how do we get to the place where the town drunk says, ‘That's enough, I'm gonna help people,’” Root noted. “So, I want to know how that came about earlier on.”After all, Wyck doesn’t seem like the most reliable narrator at the series’ open. “I've had people come up and say exactly the same thing,” the Barry alum explained, “‘What kind of guy is this? I don't know if I want—oh, he actually is trying to do good for the people of the island. He means well. He does listen.’”Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesAs for what classic horror movies the series—which also stars Emmy award winners Matthew Rhys and Kate O’Flynn—should pay homage to next, Root has one suggestion. “I did a little film called Get Out, heard of it?” the 74-year-old quipped. “Maybe something like that.” In the meantime, he’s just basking in the series’ laurels. Not only did he, Matthew and Kate—plus guest star Betty Gilpin—win for their performances in the series, but Dippold won for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in addition to the series winning best overall comedy. “The show has been recognized amazingly, last week and this week and right now,” Root said. “When I got up on stage, it was an out of body experience. So, I forgot everything I was going to say,” Thankfully, “it's okay,” he added, “because I get to hug all those people and enjoy them tonight.” For more from the 2026 Emmys, read on for the full list of winners. Outstanding Drama SeriesThe Diplomat The Gilded Age A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Paradise WINNER: The Pitt Pluribus Slow Horses Your Friends and NeighborsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesCarrie Coon, The Gilded Age Keri Russell, The Diplomat WINNER: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus Zendaya, Euphoria Chase Infiniti, The TestamentsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama SeriesSterling K. Brown, Paradise Gary Oldman, Slow Horses Mark Ruffalo, Task WINNER: Noah Wyle, The Pitt Rufus Sewell, The DiplomatOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesFiona Dourif, The Pitt Taylor Dearden, The Pitt WINNER: Allison Janney, The Diplomat Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt Julianne Nicholson, Paradise Karolina Wydra, PluribusOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesPatrick Ball, The Pitt Billy Crudup, The Morning Show Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt Jack Lowden, Slow Horses WINNER: Tom Pelphrey, Task Carlos Manuel-Vesga, Pluribus Gerran Howell, The PittOutstanding Comedy SeriesAbbott Elementary The Bear Nobody Wants This Hacks Margo’s Got Money Troubles Only Murders in the Building Shrinking WINNER: Widow’s BayOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesQuinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Ayo Edebiri, The Bear Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Troubles Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback WINNER: Jean Smart, HacksOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesSteve Carell, Rooster WINNER: Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay Jason Segel, Shrinking Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wonder ManOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesDale Dickey, Widow’s Bay Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Janelle James, Abbott Elementary WINNER: Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay Megan Stalter, Hacks Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles Jessica Williams, ShrinkingOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesColman Domingo, The Four Seasons Paul W. Downs, Hacks Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Troubles WINNER: Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay Michael Urie, Shrinking Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Harrison Ford, ShrinkingOutstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy SeriesLeslie Bibb, Hacks Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear WINNER: Betty Gilpin, Widow's Bay Cherry Jones, Hacks Laurie Metcalf, Hacks Kaitlin Olson, Hacks Lauren Weedman, HacksOutstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy SeriesChristopher McDonald, Hacks Michael J. Fox, Shrinking Brett Goldstein, Shrinking Hamish Linklater, Widow's Bay WINNER: Rob Reiner, The Bear Connor Storrie, Saturday Night LiveOutstanding Guest Actress in a Drama SeriesTal Anderson, The Pitt Brittany Allen, The Pitt Tina Ivlev, The Pitt Miriam Shor, Pluribus Merritt Wever, The Gilded Age WINNER: Shailene Woodley, ParadiseOutstanding Guest Actor in a Drama SeriesColman Domingo, Euphoria WINNER: Ernest Harden Jr., The Pitt Jeff Hiller, Pluribus Jeff Kober, The Pitt Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses Bradley Whitford, The DiplomatOutstanding Limited or Anthology SeriesThe Beast in Me Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette WINNER: DTF St. Louis Beef All Her FaultOutstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieClaire Danes, The Beast in Me Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette WINNER: Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures Carey Mulligan, Beef Sarah Snook, All Her FaultOutstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieWINNER: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me Riz Ahmed, Bait Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story Oscar Isaac, BeefOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieWINNER: Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis Constance Zimmer, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault Joy Sunday, DTF St. Louis Youn Yuh-jung, Beef Laurie Metcalf, Monster: The Ed Gein StoryOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieJason Bateman, DTF St. Louis Richard Gadd, Half Man Richard Jenkins, DTF St. Louis WINNER: David Harbour, DTF St. Louis Charles Melton, Beef Nick Offerman, Death by LightningOutstanding Unstructured Reality ProgramAmerica's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders WINNER: Love on the Spectrum RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Summer House Welcome to WrexhamOutstanding Structured Reality ProgramWINNER: Antiques Roadshow Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Love is Blind Queer Eye Shark TankOutstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition ProgramRuPaul Charles, RuPaul's Drag Race WINNER: Alan Cumming, The Traitors Kristen Kish, Top Chef Ariana Madix, Love Island USA Jeff Probst, SurvivorOutstanding Variety SeriesThe Daily Show Jimmy Kimmel Live! Last Week Tonight With John Oliver WINNER: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Saturday Night LiveOutstanding Reality Competition ProgramDancing With the Stars RuPaul’s Drag Race Survivor Top Chef WINNER: The TraitorsOutstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable WINNER: The Muppet Show Nikki Glaser: Good Girl Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour, The Final Show Wicked: One Wonderful NightOutstanding Host for a Game ShowSteve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! Colin Jost, Pop Culture Jeopardy! WINNER: Jimmy Kimmel, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Martin Short, Match GameFor the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App