The FX original series “Shōgun,” starring Hiroshi Sanada, was originally planned as a miniseries. Due to its great reception, FX has renewed it for two more seasons, with filming set to start in the summer. The second season will delve deeper into history and characters, exploring darker corners and conspiracy theories, with the third season serving as the finale.
Adapted from the eponymous novel by British author James Clavell in 1975, “Shōgun” features a cast of Japanese actors never before seen in Western entertainment. The first season received critical acclaim with a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 90% audience score. According to reports from foreign media, the series is expected to receive Emmy Award nominations this year.
The Hollywood Reporter revealed that showrunners and creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo described the second season of “Shōgun” as a “darker chapter” compared to the first season, with the third season serving as the conclusion. Marks mentioned that since December, he and Kondo have been planning for the second season, joking that they are currently in the “argument” stage.
Kondo added, “They also contradict each other’s ideas. No, there’s a lot of chaos, but it’s all creative chaos. We throw everything at the wall to see what sticks. It’s both exciting and mind-boggling because it’s obviously uncharted territory – we have no roadmap, only history.”
Marks said, “There are many great conspiracy theories in history, many different theories: oh, they say this situation has been happening all along, but this thing did indeed happen. And those dark little corners are exactly what we love to explore.”
Marks teased how they would handle the upcoming two seasons instead of just one. He said, “The third season is indeed a conclusion. We know where it starts, where it ends, and who will appear on this journey. We’re now solely focused on the second part to ensure we reach that point. But as for the second chapter, it will be a darker chapter.”
Hiroshi Sanada will return for the second season as the lead actor and executive producer. Speaking about the second season, he said, “For me, maintaining quality is the most important thing. We no longer have James Clavell’s novel, but we’ve learned his spirit and storytelling taste. I believe all of his DNA is within us.”
Variety reported that “Shōgun” was initially planned to be filmed in Japan but due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, production was moved to Vancouver. Production designers constructed a world of feudal Japan from the 1600s there. The Hollywood Reporter stated that stunt coordinators intensely trained all actors for six to eight weeks, including swordsmanship, archery, spear fighting, military exercises, and horseback riding, and they must sit and walk correctly.