Shōgun – Renewed or Cancelled?
Summary
- Shogun on FX is a period drama set in the times of feudal Japan. The show is based on James Clavell’s novel of the same name.
- FX, like other networks and streaming platforms, determines whether to renew a show based on various factors such as completion rate, viewership numbers, production costs, and more.
- As of now, the network has not announced a second season for Shogun, and given the reaction from the creators, there might not be another one.
If you follow the streaming space with even a remote interest, chances are you will have heard about Shogun. The FX offering is currently the hottest property in town. It has taken the viewer base by storm with its ambitious storytelling, strong characters, and a Game of Thrones-like topsy-turvy plot. Shogun is set in feudal Japan but doesn’t necessarily feel like a period drama.
If you’ve binged the entire second season and are itching to know if there will be a second, this article has all the details you’re looking for.
Here’s everything we know:
What is Shogun about?
Shogun is set in a time when the Taiko (ruler) of Japan has left a Council of Regents in charge of the government. However, the council is divided. Lord Ishido has turned the others against Lord Toranaga, eventually planning to give him the death penalty.
Toranaga hails from the Minowara bloodline, who were warriors and military dictators called Shogun. He is clever, cunning, and alert to new developments. For now, he is imprisoned in the Osaka Castle by Ishido. At the same time, an Englishman, John Blackthorne, hits the shores of Japan with his crew. However, the crew isn’t welcomed nicely by Yabushige and Omi, loyal vassals to Toranaga. It is only fate that brings him in front of Toranaga and eventually, Mariko, which changes the complexion of the entire show.
We have extensive coverage of the show across the site, which you can find here.
Has Shogun Been Renewed for Season 2?
FX is yet to make a definitive decision about Shogun’s future. It should be a pretty straightforward decision for the network to greenlight a second season but the issue runs deeper than the surface level logics.
In a recent interview, the co-creators revealed the reasons why a second season is possible but highly unlikely. Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo alluded to the nature of the adaptation and how they have transported the novel’s world to the screen in a one-go effort.
There isn’t any more material left to translate, bringing a lot of doubt for Season 2. Tampering with source material this good might turn out to be an imprudent decision. Marks captured the essence of the creators’ dilemma in the following comment:
“I think if we had a story, if we could find a story, we would be open to it. But I don’t think that anyone ever wants to be out over their skis without a roadmap and everything. And it’s also just about, do people want more of it? It’s also about, not even topping the book, but, how do you even equal the roadmap that Clavell laid out? And I don’t know if it’s possible. I don’t know if Clavell could have done it either. That’s probably why he moved on to other books too, right? He knew what he had done. Yeah, it’s a tough one.”
What do we know about Shogun Season 2?
As of now, we have no details about when Season 2 of Shogun could possibly air, or who will star in it. FX may retain the show on its roster given its success with the fans and critics. But given recent comments from the show’s creator, the network may have to wait.
If the show returns, viewers can anticipate a season with approximately 10 episodes, each lasting around 1 hour. However, nothing is confirmed yet, but we’ll be sure to update this page as soon as any new information comes in.
Do you want to see Shogun Season 2? Let us know in the comments below.