Against all odds, FX has greenlit a second season of Shōgun, with filming scheduled to begin in early 2026. What was originally envisioned as a one-off historical epic is now expanding into uncharted territory, as the show prepares to leap ten years beyond the events of its critically acclaimed first season. Given its status as one of 2024’s most celebrated dramas, this development is equal parts exciting and — for some — concerning.
Returning to lead the cast are Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga and Cosmo Jarvis as English navigator John Blackthorne. Their performances were among the highlights of the first season, praised for both emotional depth and quiet intensity. There’s no word yet on the broader cast, or how the time jump will reshape the characters' lives, but fans can expect a shift in tone and focus.
Here’s the catch: Season 2 has no novel to fall back on. James Clavell’s Shōgun — the 1975 bestseller that inspired the series — was never given a sequel, and FX’s request for Clavell to pen one went unanswered before his passing. While the original show had a literary roadmap, this new season must carve its own path. The parallels to Game of Thrones’ later years haven’t gone unnoticed.
Still, the ambition is clear. Shōgun became a television event not just because of its scale and spectacle, but because of its character-driven storytelling, historical undercurrents, and refusal to rush its narrative. If FX can preserve that spirit, a second season might succeed.
But with no source material and high expectations to manage, one question looms large: in the absence of Clavell’s words, whose vision will Shōgun now follow?
