Shōgun strikes back: New season breathes life into 17th-century saga
4:41 PM EDT, May 11, 2024
The series, set in 17th-century Japan on the cusp of civil war, has quickly captured viewers' hearts worldwide. The creators of "Shōgun" initially refuted claims that the show would see a second season. However, new, groundbreaking information has recently emerged.
"Shōgun" made its debut on Disney+ on February 27 this year. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of 17th-century Japan. The main character, English sailor John Blackthorne, finds himself shipwrecked off the coast of Japan just as the country is about to plunge into a civil war. Marooned, he ends up at the court of the influential Lord Toranaga.
Blackthorne, alongside Mariko (played by Anna Sawai), a Christian convert proficient in Portuguese, begins to navigate the harsh and cryptic codes governing this remote land. Soon, he becomes enmeshed in a network of complex political schemes.
The first season drew inspiration from James Clavell's bestselling 1975 novel. This book was transformed into the now-iconic historical drama "Shogun" five years later, marking its grand premiere.
After ten exceptional episodes, the question of a second season loomed large. The show's creators initially tempered expectations by asserting that the narrative was fully explored in its inaugural season.
Justin Marks, one of the showrunners, revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that they "took the story to the end of the book and put a period at the end of that sentence." Since then, a different outlook on the matter has emerged.
"Shōgun": Is a second season in the works?
Deadline reports that Hiroyuki Sanada, who portrays Lord Yoshi Toranaga, has signed a contract to appear in the show's second season. As the original book didn't continue beyond its ending, the upcoming episodes will be derived from a new screenplay.
An announcement from Disney regarding the commencement of production for the new season seems imminent. Should the second season receive official approval, the studio intends to reclassify "Shōgun" from a limited series to a drama series at the Emmy Awards. Given the intense competition in the limited series category in recent years, "Shōgun" stands a strong chance in the "best drama series" category.
