Shogun Star Hiroyuki Sanada Teases How Season 2 Can Happen Without the Book

Shogun Star Hiroyuki Sanada Teases How Season 2 Can Happen Without the Book

As a long-time connoisseur of historical dramas, I must admit that the prospect of more Shogun is both exhilarating and perplexing. The first season was a masterful adaptation of James Clavell’s novel, and I found myself utterly engrossed in the intricate politics and strategems of Lord Toranaga. However, with the book having been fully adapted, I was left wondering how the story could continue without the original blueprint.


Enthusiasts of the historical drama “Shogun” found themselves equally thrilled and perplexed when FX announced that the show was being revived for two additional seasons. As the first season, initially intended as a limited series, covered the entirety of James Clavell’s renowned and extensive novel, fans are curious about how the story would progress without Clavell’s outline to guide it. However, actor and producer Hiroyuki Sanada, who portrays Lord Toranaga in “Shogun”, aims to alleviate their concerns as he has shared plans on how the series might continue beyond the source material.

On The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Sanada shared insights about his character in Shogun and the remarkable 26 Primetime Emmy nominations the show received. Throughout their chat, the actor provided updates on future seasons of Shogun and subtly suggested potential directions for the storyline to unfold further.

The actor announced that the writers’ workspace is now open, with Justin Marks, Rachel Kondo, and the writing team actively generating concepts for upcoming seasons. Although the show no longer has James Clavell’s novel as a reference, both the book and the series are recognized for their historical authenticity, which could guide the show’s future direction. Hiroyuki Sanada stated:

“Though we no longer possess the original novel, it was utilized in season one. Regardless, our ability to narrate effectively remains, and we have authentic historical events as a reference. Consequently, we are well-informed about what truly transpired…We’ve already begun preparations. The writing room is now active.”

Shogun Seasons 2 & 3 Could Feature More Action

Shogun Star Hiroyuki Sanada Teases How Season 2 Can Happen Without the BookShogun Star Hiroyuki Sanada Teases How Season 2 Can Happen Without the BookShogun Star Hiroyuki Sanada Teases How Season 2 Can Happen Without the BookShogun Star Hiroyuki Sanada Teases How Season 2 Can Happen Without the BookShogun Star Hiroyuki Sanada Teases How Season 2 Can Happen Without the Book

As a devoted cinephile, I find myself captivated by the narrative of “Shogun,” which chronicles Lord Toranaga’s quest to ascend as the Shogun (ruler) of Japan, aiming to restore unity in the land that had been ravaged by decades of strife and disorder. With the aid of the English sailor, John Blackthorne (portrayed by Cosmo Jarvis), Lord Toranaga demonstrates a keen strategic mind, often outsmarting his adversaries without resorting to extensive battles or protracted wars. The first season skillfully constructed anticipation for an epic showdown between Toranaga and his chief adversary, Lord Ishido (played by Takehiro Hira). Yet, the audience was taken aback when it became clear that Toranaga had been meticulously plotting a covert strategy to unseat Ishido, one that didn’t necessitate war but rather relied on turning Ishido’s own people against him.

The plot twist is a genius piece of writing, both in the novel and FX’s series. However, some fans were upset that they never got to see two gigantic armies of samurai clash on-screen. While Season 1 never featured any massive battles, Hiroyuki Sanada teased that future seasons could give in to these desires for more action. Sanada explained:

In Episode 10, Toranaga shares his vision of future events. However, this didn’t come true during Season One. Therefore, we can speculate that it might unfold in Seasons Two or Three, keeping our fingers crossed.

Currently, there’s no formal confirmation about the production of Seasons 2 and 3 of Shogun. However, creative minds are brainstorming potential concepts for future episodes. If Marks, Kondo, and FX executives decide to proceed with these ideas, then it’s possible that we could see Season 2 of Shogun being produced swiftly once given the go-ahead.

Shogun
Season 1 is streaming on Hulu.

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2024-08-16 15:31