The last installment of Shōgun has made its way to Disney Plus, wrapping up their interpretation of James Clavell’s novel in a gripping manner.
After the enthralling conclusion, supporters of the period drama are currently pondering the possibility of a new installment being produced.
1. Will there be a Shogun season 2?
Currently, FX has not announced the renewal of Shōgun for a second season.
Despite the positive response so far, it is highly anticipated that the creators will announce a second season of Shōgun or another addition to Clavell’s Asian Saga series due to its critical acclaim.
The co-showrunners, Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, have stated that the future of the show is still uncertain. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, co-creator Marks said, “I am not sure. We want to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to the book.”
Fortunately, both the viewers and readers are now in agreement about the narrative and its conclusion.
“I believe that if we were able to come up with a compelling story, we would be willing to pursue it. However, I don’t think anyone wants to take on a project without a clear plan or direction. Ultimately, it comes down to whether or not there is enough interest in continuing the project.”
He went on to say, “It’s not just a matter of surpassing the book, but rather, how do you match the intricate storyline that Clavell crafted? I’m not sure if it’s achievable. Even Clavell may have struggled with it, which is probably why he wrote other books as well. He was aware of his own accomplishment. It’s definitely a challenge.”
What could be a potential release date for Season 2?
Should Shogun receive the green light for a second season, fans should anticipate a lengthy wait as the first season was a labor-intensive process. As the co-showrunner noted, the team dedicated five years to its creation, ensuring meticulous attention to detail every step of the way.
Despite the initial plan to film the series in Japan, the pandemic forced production to take place in Canada. However, now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted, there is a possibility that the show may relocate production to Japan for its second season.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding a potential second season of Shogun, the co-showrunner has revealed that pre-production may already be underway to prevent any major delays if the show is greenlit. Therefore, although the setting may differ, the exact release date for season 2 is still unclear.
Who could return for a potential Shōgun season 2?
Despite the many deaths and violent conflicts in season 1 of Shōgun, there is still speculation about who could potentially return in season 2. However, the unexpected death of Mariko in episode 9 was a major plot twist, ultimately ruling out the possibility of Anna Sawai reprising her role in the second season.
The returning cast members for season 2 are expected to include:
- Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga
- Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne
- Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige
- Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi
- Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari
- Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji
- Shinnosuke Abe as Toda Hirokatsu
- Yuka Kouri as Kiku
- Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba no Kata
- I am Daiyoin Lady Iyo
- Yasunari Takeshima as Muraji
- Toshi Toda as Sugiyama
- Hiro Kanagawa as Igurashi
- Junichi Tajiri as Uejiro
- Néstor Carbonell as Vasco Rodrigues
- Tommy Bastow as Father Martin Alvito
- Nobuya Shimamoto as Nepali Jozen
- Yoriko Dōguchi as Kiri No Kata
- Yuki Kedoin as Takemaru
- Mako Fujimoto as Shizu No Kata
- Haruno Niiyama as Natsu no Kata
- Hiromoto Ida as Kiyama Ukon Sadanaga
- Takeshi Kurokawa as Ohno Harunobu
- Yuko Miyamoto as Gin
4. What could be a potential storyline for Shogun Season 2?
It is still unconfirmed whether the second series will directly continue the events of Shōgun season 1.
It is a well-known fact that this series is the third book in Clavell’s collection. Despite being commonly read as the first book, there are in fact five other novels that could potentially be adapted for upcoming seasons.
Tai-Pan, published in 1966, is the second novel following Shōgun and is widely regarded as Clavell’s masterpiece.
In 1980, a TV miniseries based on Tai-Pan was produced. The series depicts the arrival of European and American traders in Hong Kong following Britain’s victory in the first Opium War and their subsequent takeover of the city.
Tai-Pan features a wealth of intriguing relationships, families, and characters. Despite this, it remains uncertain if the upcoming series will incorporate the novel’s elements.
5. Does the series differ from the books?
Speaking exclusively to The Direct’s Russ Milheim, the producers of FX’s upcoming series Shogun discussed the ways in which the upcoming adaptation differs from its original source material.
Clavell acknowledged that when discussing the alterations made in this new adaptation, it was necessary to select specific elements and themes from the large scope of Shogun. He explained that, despite having 10 hours to work with, it was impossible to include every aspect of the book.
“My father’s book was quite extensive, possibly spanning over a couple of thousand pages. It was a challenge to extract the desired information from such a large volume. With such a vast amount of content, it was necessary to carefully select and prioritize the key elements to be presented, even if given 10 hours.”
According to her, FX had a strong belief in their ability to portray this version from a Japanese perspective. Additionally, they desired a cast that was more of an ensemble.
When we first talked to FX, Gina Balian, and John Landgraf, they were extremely confident in their ability to create a version of this from the Japanese perspective.
I believe that the initial version primarily focused on [John] Blackthorne’s perspective as the Englishmen arrived in Japan. However, in this version, the creators aimed for a more diverse cast. They also wanted to showcase the story from Toranaga’s viewpoint, in addition to Blackthorne’s.
According to Marks, when he first heard the story, he had conflicting feelings about it. As a Caucasian man, he was hesitant because it centers around a character who is also Caucasian and wearing clothing that is not traditionally associated with his culture.
In my personal experience, I was conflicted about the silhouette and how it portrayed a Caucasian man wearing clothing from a different culture. Though I cannot speak for anyone else, the image made me question its authenticity.
Furthermore, there is a representational aspect to that which I am unable to fully address.
Ana Sawai, the star of Shōgun and actress portraying Mariko in the miniseries, recently discussed a significant difference between the book and the show regarding the conclusion of episode 9.
Sawai clarified the reason for the slight variation in the ending of episode 9 of Shōgun compared to the books.
In the novels, Mariko identifies herself as a Toda, but in the television adaptation, she goes by her family name, Akechi. The actor clarified that this alteration was a deliberate way to emphasize her identity and her motivations in the story.
6. About Shōgun
Shōgun is a new American limited series based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell. The novel was previously adapted into a 1980 miniseries.
The first two episodes of the series will debut on February 27, 2024, on both Hulu and FX. Following this, a new episode of the 10-episode series will be released each week.
“Shōgun depicts the convergence of two ambitious individuals from contrasting backgrounds and a mysterious female samurai. John Blackthorne, a daring English sailor, is stranded in Japan, a foreign land whose unfamiliar customs will ultimately transform him. On the other hand, Lord Toranaga, a cunning and influential daimyo, faces opposition from treacherous political adversaries. Lady Mariko, a skilled woman with dubious family connections, must demonstrate her worth and loyalty.”
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