Production on the second season of the acclaimed historical drama Shōgun is set to begin in January 2026 in Vancouver, FX has announced. The series, based on James Clavell’s novel, will see the return of its lead stars, Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga and Cosmo Jarvis as the English sailor John Blackthorne.
The upcoming season will jump forward in time, taking place ten years after the events of the first season. According to an official description, the new episodes will further explore the intertwined destinies of Toranaga and Blackthorne. The first season’s synopsis detailed how Blackthorne “shared vital strategic secrets with Toranaga that tipped the scales of power in his favor to win a century-defining civil war.”
Read more: ‘Shōgun’ Sweeps SAG Awards: Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai Lead Historic Wins
Sanada, who also served as a producer on the first season, has been elevated to executive producer for the second. Jarvis will also take on a co-executive producer role.
Shōgun Season 1, which debuted in February 2024, garnered widespread critical praise and achieved significant awards success. FX reported that it was the most-watched program in the network’s history. The series earned a remarkable 18 Emmy Awards in 2024, including Outstanding Drama Series and individual acting awards for Sanada and Anna Sawai. It also received the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama.
Read more: ‘Shogun’ Star Anna Sawai Makes History as First Asian Actress to Win Golden Globe Since 1981
The renewal for a second season follows earlier reports that FX was considering the show for the drama series category at the Emmys, a move typically reserved for programs with more than one season. Shortly after, it was confirmed that Sanada had signed on for a second season, and FX officially announced that Clavell’s estate and the series creators, Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, were developing additional seasons. Kondo and Marks have completed the writing for the second season.
Joining Kondo and Marks as executive producers are Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, and Michael De Luca. FX Productions is the studio behind the series.
