There aren’t many shows that debut with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, but FX’s adaptation of James Clavell’s Shōgun is something special. This is the second time that Shōgun has been adapted for television, and it was also a breakout hit in 1980 when it was hailed as one of the greatest miniseries ever created for TV. It took another 44 years before FX’s modern take followed, but this version of Shōgun is already among the contenders for the best TV series of 2024.
Cosmo Jarvis stars in Shōgun as John Blackthrone, an English sailor who is trapped in Japan at the beginning of the 17th century. This was during a time when Japan wasn’t particularly welcoming of outsiders. And once Blackthrone proved that he had value, he wasn’t allowed to leave. Thus, the show chronicles Blackthrone’s transformation as he acclimates to Japan and its people in a time of deadly turmoil.
But it’s not just Blackthrone’s story this time. FX’s adaptation has beefed up the roles of Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai) to the point where they are co-leads in the miniseries alongside Blackthrone. Sanada even gets top billing over Jarvis, which would have been unheard of in 1980.
Now that the show’s initial outing has concluded, and we know exactly what happens, many fans are naturally wondering whether the show will return for a second season. We’ve got all the information you need answering that very question.
Will there be a season 2 of Shōgun?
Although the events of the novel that Shōgun is based on were covered completely by the first season of the show, the surprising answer to this question is yes. While Shōgun was initially conceived as a limited series, the show will be returning for a second season.
Hiroyuki Sanada recently signed a deal to return for that second season, and according to reporting from Deadline, Sanada’s involvement was crucial to any additional seasons. Other details around a second season are reportedly still in the works, but FX is eager to make a second season happen in large part because of the enormous success of the first installment.
The first season was six years in the making and delayed because of COVID among other reasons. After its debut, though, it became a critical and commercial darling, which is good for FX, because it’s the most expensive show the network has ever produced.
What’s next after Shōgun?
It’s unclear exactly what a second season of Shōgun might look like, but now that it’s in the works, there will certainly be plenty of speculation. Although it’s a work of fiction, the novel is heavily inspired by real history, and concludes before Sanada’s Lord Taranaga has actually begun the conquest that will eventually make him the ruler of Japan.
It’s possible, then, that a subsequent season of Shōgun could pick up where the first one left off, following Toranaga as he becomes the titular Shōgun and consolidates his hold over all of Japan. It’s also possible, though, that a subsequent season could focus on an entirely different story set in the same era of feudal Japan. Whichever route they choose to go, though, it seems that the story of Shōgun may not be over just yet.
The first seven episodes of Shōgun are now streaming on Hulu.
