Cosmo Jarvis & Hiroyuki Sanada Anchor the Period Drama Revival of 'Shogun'

The Australian-born British writer James Clavell was well-known in Hollywood for The Fly, The Great Escape, and To Sir, With Love before becoming a best-selling novelist for Shōgun in the 1970s. Perhaps the only surprising thing about his book being adapted in 1980 for the screen is that it wasn't automatically assumed to be a big-budget blockbuster, which was all the rage in the wake of Jaws. Instead, Shōgun was about thirty years ahead of the curve as a big-budget TV miniseries starring mainly British actors, including Richard Chamberlain and John Rhys-Davies, for which it took home multiple Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, and a Peabody Award.

On some level, it's surprising the series hasn't been remade until now, as it's ripe for reinvention. The novel is focused on a British 17th-century character in shogunate Japan, making it a British-aligned period piece. However, the historical fiction it presents is one where a recentering of those who are actually at war, instead of the outland intruder, would give it a very different and interesting perspective. That's just what FX claims it is about to do with this remake, which is produced by actor Hiroyuki Sanada, an honorary member of the British Empire for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and best known to American audiences for his roles in Westworld on HBO and John Wick and The Last Samurai in film.

Sanada will co-star with Cosmo Jarvis, who most will remember from his most recent turn in Netflix's disastrous Persuasion, playing the white man outlander whose arrival by shipwreck kicks off the story. The new series will run ten episodes, up from the original 1980s miniseries' five. 

Here's the series synopsis:

An original adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel, Shōgun is set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, John Blackthorne, comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies — the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants. 

Toranaga’s and Blackthorne’s fates become inextricably tied to their translator, Toda Mariko, a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced line. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her, and her duty to her late father.

Producer Hiroyuki Sanada stars as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, with Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne and Anna Sawai (Pachinko) as Toda Mariko. Shōgun features an acclaimed Japanese cast, including Tadanobu Asano (Welcome Home, Monet), Hiroto Kanai (Tuna Girl), Takehiro Hira (The Swarm), Moeka Hoshi (Dependence), Tokuma Nishioka (Green Grass), Shinnosuke Abe (A Pub From A Different World), Yuki Kura (Out), Yuka Kouri (September 1923), and Fumi Nikaido (Promise Cinderella).

Shōgun is created for television by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, with Marks serving as Showrunner and Executive Producer alongside Kondo, Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, and Michael De Luca. The ten-episode series was written by Kono and Marks, with episode writing credits also going to Shannon Gross, Nigel Williams, Emily Yoshida, Maegan Houang, Matt Lambert, and Caillin Puente. Director Jonathan van Tulleken helmed the show's first two episodes with Charlotte Brändström, Hiromi Kamata, and Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour credited with future installments. The series is produced by FX Productions.

Shōgun will premiere on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, on Hulu or on Disney+ under the Hulu tile with two episodes, followed by a new episode each week, alongside the FX linear channel.