Ron Howard Is ‘Too Superstitious’ to Bet on Chances of Winning Acting Emmy (Exclusive)

Ron Howard is “enjoying the ride” as the 2025 Emmy Awards ceremony approaches. 

The acclaimed director — who earned his first acting Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category for his role in Apple TV+’s satirical comedy series The Studio — revealed how he’s feeling and discussed his chances of winning ahead of the Sept. 14 ceremony.

“I’ve been so relaxed about this because the whole thing was just a blast,” Howard, 71, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive conversation at the YES Scholars 25th Anniversary Gala in Los Angeles on Thursday, Sept. 4.

The three-time Emmy winner adds, “The fact I actually was nominated, of course, I was thrilled, but more just kind of giddy. It was such fun doing it, and I’m sure once I get there, I’ll want to win, just like everybody else who wanders into that room. But for the moment, I’m just enjoying the ride.”

Asked whether his friends or relatives have a pool going to see if he’ll win, Howard says, “No … I think we’re a little too superstitious.”

But if Howard does win, he’ll be ready for his acceptance speech.

“I don’t have a speech planned, but it’d be easy to come up with one because I had so much fun,” he explains.

The Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind director previously told PEOPLE in July that he was “getting a kick out of” earning his 14th Primetime Emmys nod.

“I play an a—— version of myself,” he said at the time. “Apparently, it went over. I have many noms and even some wins on the producing and directing side, but first nom as an actor, which is kind of funny.”

In The Studio, Howard is among several A-list stars who play fictionalized versions of themselves. In his Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category, Howard’s fellow guest actors from The Studio will vie for the Emmy: Dave Franco, Martin Scorsese, Bryan Cranston and Anthony Mackie.

In episode 3, which came out in April, Howard’s character cries when Seth Rogen’s studio head character gives him a difficult piece of feedback, resulting in Howard angrily throwing his signature baseball cap at him.

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Howard has won three of his previous 13 Emmy nominations for Jim Henson Idea Man in 2024 (Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program), Arrested Development in 2004 (Outstanding Comedy Series) and From the Earth to the Moon in 1998 (Outstanding Miniseries).

The Studio, which earned 23 nods, is available to stream on Apple TV+.