VOD News | On 01, May 2025

Shōgun is officially gearing up for a second season, with production set to begin in January 2026.

Based on the novel of the same name by James Clavell, it takes place in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Producer Hiroyuki Sanada stars as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, who fights for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies – the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants.

“This ambitious, sweeping period epic is an astonishing feat of TV,” we wrote in our review.

The first season of Shōgun won 18 Emmy Awards, setting the record for the most Emmy Awards by a series in a single season. It was perhaps no surprise, then, when FX announced that it would return for a second season, even though the whole novel was adapted for the first season.

Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, who created the series for television, recently wrapped a writers’ room devoted to creating a wholly original new chapter of the story. Part 2 of Shōgun is set 10 years after the events of the first season and continues the historically-inspired saga of these two men from different worlds whose fates are inextricably entwined.

Marks and Kondo are Executive Producers alongside Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell and Michael De Luca. Hiroyuki Sanada is set to return and star as Toranaga and has been elevated to Executive Producer on the second season. Cosmo Jarvis will also reprise his role as Blackthorne and serve as Co-Executive Producer.

Production will will take place in Vancouver.

 

Shogun Season 2 and 3 in the works at Disney

18th May 2024

Shōgun is gearing up to return for two more seasons for Disney.

The FX drama, which premiered back in February on Disney+ UK, is based on James Clavell’s bestselling novel and takes place in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Producer Hiroyuki Sanada stars as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, who fights for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies – the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants.

Toronaga’s and Blackthorne’s fates become inextricably tied to their translator, Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced line. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her and her duty to her late father.

Season 1 starred an acclaimed Japanese cast, unprecedented for an American production, including Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige, a notorious backstabber and close ally of Toranaga; Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi, the young leader of the fishing village where Blackthorne’s ship was found, Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari, a powerful bureaucrat who is Toranaga’s chief rival, Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji, a widow who must find new purpose amid her lord’s fight, Tokuma Nishioka as Toda Hiromatsu, Toranaga’s trusted general and closest friend, and Shinnosuke Abe as Toda Hirokatsu, Mariko’s jealous husband.

It was created for television by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, with Marks serving as Showrunner and Executive Producer alongside Michaela Clavell, Edward L McDonnell, Michael De Luca, and Kondo.

The show is FX’s most-watched show ever (based on global hours streamed), prompting much speculation about whether it would transition from being a limited series to a drama. Indeed, earlier this month, reports were swirling round that FX was exploring possible options for the show’s future. Now, it has confirmed that a writers room is being assembled for a continuation of Shōgun beyond Clavell’s original novel, which doesn’t have a direct sequel. Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, Michaela Clavell and Hiroyuki Sanada are all among the people working on the extension for two more potential seasons.

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