If “The Bear” became FX’s biggest hit for 2022 and 2023, then 2024 has undoubtedly been owned thus far, but the TV network’s hit series “Shōgun” (read our review). Created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, “Shōgun” has exploded as FX’s biggest streaming hit on Hulu/Disney+ and is heading toward becoming a serious Emmy contender—actress Anna Sawai’s performance is already expected to end up landing an acting nomination, and there could be much more. While the ten-episode miniseries was always meant to be a one-off limited run, the show’s popularity has seemingly demanded more. And so, despite the creators recently hemming and hawing about doing more “Shōgun,” the show’s second season is slowly coming together.
In an inkling of which direction it would take, lead actor Hiroyuki Sanada (“John Wick 4”) has signed a deal with FX to reprise his role of Lord Yoshii Toranaga in a follow-up season, according to Deadline. Sanada would be the first person from the cast to close a deal to return. He isn’t just one of the main stars and has a vital role as an executive producer. Sanada helped the production add an authentic element to the samurai series while advocating for the crew in Vancouver to work alongside Japanese artisans/consultants.
“No one knows what’s going to happen next,” actor and producer Sanada told THR earlier in the show’s season before his deal was announced to the public. “But we have history, real history models, and clearly, we know what happened. So, yeah. It all depends on the audience’s reaction.”
While showrunners/creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo have commented on a hypothetical second season, as of right now, there’s no word on whether they’re returning or not, but apparently, further deals are being worked out as we speak. As Deadline notes, the outcome of season two would determine whether “Shōgun” would be considered a limited or drama series going forward and radically change its classifications at the upcoming Emmy awards.
“I think if we had a story if we could find a story, we would be open to it,” Marks explained last month to THR. “But I don’t think that anyone ever wants to be out over their skis without a roadmap and everything. And it’s also just about, do people want more of it?”
The series, of course, is set during the era of feudal Japan and is based on the James Clavell novel, which infused various historical elements. One of the ways the show could keep chugging along story-wise might be by adding more takes on Japanese culture/history. One huge event that could inspire a new season could be the true tale of the 47 Ronin in 1703, a brutal/violent political plot that saw a group of 47 ronin (masterless samurai) looking for revenge for their fallen Lord. Those events could easily for a thrilling season two.
There is also the possibility that the writers/showrunners could pull elements from Clavell’s other Japanese-set novel “Gai-Jin,” although that took place in the mid-19th century and incorporated a fictionalized version of the Namamugi Incident.
We’ll just have to wait for more information on what the plans are for this follow-up season of “Shōgun.”