Shōgun Season Two: Everything We Know So Far

Shōgun is far from over, despite the series’s shocking finale earlier this year.

The Japanese period drama is based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name, and was originally a limited series. In May, however, FX and Hulu announced that the show would return for not one, but two more seasons, per The Hollywood Reporter. And with 25 Emmy nominations earned this summer, it’s clear audiences want more of the series.

Set in 17th-century Japan, the first season follows Lord Yoshi Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), and Lady Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), whose lives become entangled while navigating growing political tensions. Toranaga’s allegiance to the realm’s shōgun—an equivalent to a monarch or king—is questioned, while English sailor Blackthorne finds himself at the center of political troubles. Meanwhile, Mariko serves as Blackthorne’s translator and an advisor to Toranaga.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, co-creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo are already writing the next seasons. “There’s a lot of chaos, but creative chaos,” Kondo told the publication. “We’re throwing everything that we have at the wall, seeing what sticks. It’s been exciting and nerve-racking because, obviously, this is uncharted territory—we don’t have a road map, we just have history.”

As for what comes next, read on for everything we know about Shōgun season two.

What will season two of Shōgun be about?

Co-creator Marks hinted in his conversation with The Hollywood Reporter that the second season will be “darker” than season one. “There’s a lot of great conspiracy theories in history,” he said. “A lot of different theories about, ‘Oh, it was said that this went on, but this really went on,’ and those little darker corners are what we’ve really enjoyed exploring.”

While the first season of Shōgun covered the entirety of Clavell’s novel, it sounds like the next season will pull its material from Japanese history. So far, the show has balanced fact and fiction, and the second season will likely turn to a dramatized version of what really went on in 17th-century Japan. “We don’t have James Clavell’s novel anymore, but we learned his spirit and the taste of storytelling,” Sanada told THR. “Keeping quality is the most important thing to me.”

Who will be in the season two cast?

So far, Hiroyuki Sanada is the only original cast member confirmed to return. Prior to the announcement of season two, he signed on to reprise his role as Lord Yoshi Toranaga for another installment, according to Deadline.

There’s been no confirmation whether second leading man, Cosmo Jarvis, will come back as Blackthorne. He spoke about how difficult it was to embody the character in an April 2024 interview with Vanity Fair, stating that, “Blackthorne totally preoccupied and consumed me, and had for so long.”

“When it came to the final shot, it was just horrific, because it’s only then that I suppose Blackthorne had to be left behind and all of these adventures had to be left behind. And it was just kind of sad, you know?” Jarvis added. “I suppose in a way it was relieving, but also, then you’re just another unemployed actor, and you don’t know what’s going to come next.”

Meanwhile, Anna Sawai will likely not return to the show (spoiler alert!), given her character Mariko died in the season one finale. As for whether she would come back through flashbacks, she told The Hollywood Reporter in June, “They can do that. I don’t know if it’s necessary though. I don’t want them to write something just to have her in it, like it feels a little forced.”

When will Shōgun season two premiere?

As of now, a release date for season two hasn’t been announced. Marks and Kondo have been working on the new season of Shōgun since December of 2023, however, meaning the upcoming episodes are in development. Stay tuned!

Maya Ernest

Weekend news editor

Maya Ernest is an editor who covers everything from the latest fashion news to features that investigate personal style, social media trends, and thoughtful consumption.