- FX has not announced anything about the renewal of Shogun for a second season.
- The showrunners, producers, and actors previously shared their opinions about Shogun ending as a one-season limited series.
- This is mostly because the show's creators chose to condense the novel into a single season with ten episodes.
Since its premiere, FX’s Shogun TV show has enthralled viewers with an intriguing political drama set in Japan. Shogun, which has been airing for the past two months, concluded today with episode 10. After watching the outstanding Shogun finale, we know you are eager to find out if Season 2 of the show is already in the works. Since we share your curiosity, we have compiled all the details you need to know about the possibility of there being a Shogun Season 2.
Did FX Renew Shogun for a Second Season?
As of the writing of this article, FX hasn’t released an official statement regarding the renewal of Shogun for season 2. However, this is not a surprise as the showrunners, producers, and even the cast have already offered their thoughts about Shogun being a limited series with just one season. This is primarily due to the fact the creators decided to adapt the whole book into just one season with 10 episodes.
In an interview with The Direct, Justin Marks, one of the co-creators of the show stated that the ending of the show is “exactly where the book ends”.
I think we tell the complete story of the book. And we get to the end. I hope those who have read the book will see it’s exactly where the book ends. And we’re really excited about that because it’s a very surprising ending that [James] Clavell does for the book. And it’s kind of beautifully ambiguous in certain senses. But you know, that’s the stories we tell it. I will also say it took us five years. This show is older than both of our children. You know, it’s a lot.
From this statement, we can understand that the creators have no plans for a second season as they have adapted the source material in just a single season. Cosmo Jarvis, the actor behind the role of fan-favorite, John Blackthorne also backed the statement mentioned above saying, “The narrative substance of the book has been used up.”
While the cast and creators have almost confirmed there isn’t a possibility of season 2, Executive Producer Michaela Clavell provided an upbeat response about the likelihood of a season in an ambiguous manner. One should note that she is the daughter of James Clavell, the author of the Shogun novel. She added:
“You know, the audience will let us know whether there’s, there is their appetite for that. We shall see. It’s a great question. I wish I knew the complete answer, but I don’t.”
Co-creator and Executive Producer Rachel Kondo remarked that Cosmo Jarvis once mentioned how Shogun can “be a catalyst for audiences to encounter Japanese history in a new way. Because there’s a lot of it.” Furthermore, showrunner Justin Marks also shared his thoughts about Hollywood going on a new venture with Japanese periodic dramas:
The Jidaigeki (a genre in Japanese media mainly focusing on period dramas)… I’d love for this in the United States to inspire a new curiosity… That would push more movies, TV, and video games, and that space would be great.”
With Ghost of Tsushima coming to PC soon, I highly recommend this game if you are a gamer and want to experience something very similar to Shogun. You can also try out the 1980s Shogun Mini-Series by Paramount Television. Moreover, as the creators and the stars stated, I hope Hollywood pushes for more stories like this that can heighten the standards of TV Shows.
Could Shogun Season 2 Arrive with an Original Story?
We have seen numerous hit TV Shows such as Game of Thrones, The Handmaid’s Tale, Hannibal, The Expanse, and many others getting expanded beyond the source with fresh original stories. If the showrunners have an original story with a lot of potential, then they can opt for this route.
However, there is one more befitting choice which is to adapt the remaining novels of the Asian Saga. For those who aren’t aware, James Clavell, the author of the Shogun novel, has also written five other similar novels that are collectively known as the Asian Saga. Thus, the showrunners can potentially adapt one of the renowned works of James again to deliver another blockbuster show.
But, at this moment, the possibility of Shogun season 2 is highly unlikely. But we cannot rule out the possibility of a second season entirely as Clavell’s daughter remarked that the audience demand can drive the decision. So, bookmark this page to stay up to date with more updates about season 2, and do let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Let’s unite our voices and show our enthusiasm for filmmakers. Shogun Season 2 is worth fighting for!