Summary
FX chairman John Landgraf reveals a filming start window forShogunseason 2, and gives an indication of how long it will take to complete. Landgraf and FX had an unexpected hit on their hands withShogunseason 1, an adaptation of James Clavell’s classic novel about medieval Japan. Though the first season covered all the material contained in Clavell’s book, FX has announced thatShogunseason 2is happening, with Hiroyuki Sanada returning as the ever-scheming Lord Toranaga.
The second season ofShogundoes not yet have a premiere date, but Landgraf himself just gave an update on when filming may begin, indicating that the ball likely won’t get rolling until 2025. Check out his remarks below (viaVariety):
We’re hoping to be in production relatively early next year. But it’s a long production period. I think between principal and second unit days of photography, that show shot between 180 and 190 days or more, could have been close to 200.
When Will Shogun Season 2 Arrive And What Will It Be About?
Landgraf’s loose update on the start window forShogunseason 2 is good news, in that it confirms plans are still moving forward. TheFXboss does, however, offer a sobering assessment of how long it will take to complete work on the second season. The timeline Landgraf lays out makes it unlikely thatShogunseason 2 will find its way to FX and Hulu before 2026, putting the final gap between seasons at around two years.
While it’s disappointing to note thatShogunwill likely not return until 2026, such a long production time is completely understandable for a show of such dimension. The long production of season 1 was worth it, as the end result was a truly memorable show that felt epic in sweep, while still delivering intimate human drama and satisfyingly intricate storytelling.
Shogunseason 1 has a 99% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes
It would indeed be sad to see FX and company rushingShogunseason 2, as that would likely mean a decline in quality. As for the story to be revealed in the new season, that is being kept under wraps. The tale told in Clavell’s original novel has already been fully adapted, leaving producers the freedom to create their own season 2 narrative. It’s perhaps notable that season 1 ended withToranagaand his clan on the verge of war, opening the possibility that season 2 could cover the military conflict that follows upon the events depicted in season 1.
Shogun
Cast
Shōgun, released in 2024, is set in Japan during 1600 at the onset of a significant civil war. It follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga as he battles political adversaries on the Council of Regents, while a European ship mysteriously appears in a nearby fishing village, complicating the tides of power.
