PremiumHiroyuki Sanada confirms Shōgun Season 2 plans: Casting, Filming timeline, story expansion and more
Hiroyuki Sanada revealed that Shōgun Season 2 could start later this year. With scripts complete, future seasons may also be in the works.
Last Updated: 04.08 PM, Feb 09, 2025
Season 2 of the Emmy-winning FX series Shōgun could start filming as soon as this fall, according to star Hiroyuki Sanada. He told Variety at AARP's Movies for Grownups Awards that they are aiming for the autumn of this year, and the writers' room is working so hard now. They will be welcoming half of the new cast members and half of the original cast back for Season 2. He is thrilled since they are now recruiting the top crew for the upcoming season.
FX has yet to officially approve Shōgun Season 2
Although FX has not officially approved Shōgun Season 2, production is continuing. Executive producer and creator Rachel Kondo said in January that production is underway on a new season, but she has since kept the specifics under wraps. Co-creator and executive producer Justin Marks noted that they are about six weeks from the end of the writers' room.
In October, Marks and FX inked a TV overall contract that might lead to additional seasons of Shōgun, a show that was created in partnership with James Clavell’s estate. The English sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) and the strong daimyo Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) are the protagonists of the first season, which is based on the novel by James Clavell. Blackthorne is shipwrecked in Japan, and Toranaga faces political opponents.
Critical acclaim and award wins
Due to the show's popularity, two additional seasons have been announced. In addition to the Best Television Series—Drama, Best Actor (Hiroyuki Sanada), Best Actress (Anna Sawai), and Best Supporting Actor (Tadanobu Asano), Shōgun took home four honors at this year's Golden Globes. Not only that, but the show broke the record for most Emmys won by a single television season with 18 awards.
The writers' room for Shōgun was verified by Marks. Season 2 has concluded, and preparations are already in motion for season 3. In the very first episode, he hinted at future plotlines and revealed that big shocks will unfold. Also, the ten episodes are over, and the finale is here. They can now begin to plan the shoot because of that. However, they are incredibly enthusiastic about the plan. Above all else, Marks wants people to remember how he intends for some of the major concepts to shock them in the very first episode of Part 2's second season. Therefore, that will be the jumping-off point for future stories.
Expanding beyond James Clavell's novel
It is unclear how future episodes will broaden the storyline, given that Season 1 adhered closely to Clavell's novel. Season 2's writers have probably gotten imaginative without having a second book to refer to. Nonetheless, in order to maintain cultural and historical fidelity, they are collaborating with Sanada, who doubles as a producer.
Other than Sanada, FX has not officially announced who will be returning to the Shōgun cast, but more announcements are likely as production continues. The makers anticipate that Season 2, with its substantial historical detail and practical effects, will demand the same amount of work as Season 1. The length of time it took to film Season 1 implies that Season 2 will also take its own time.
Future of the Shōgun franchise
Although the shooting schedule is not yet known, Shōgun production can continue now that the screenplays are complete. The statement made by Marks regarding "future stories" suggests that there may be more seasons in the works, in addition to the confirmed Season 3. How FX plans to continue the series is going to depend on how well Season 2 does.