FX Working with James Clavell Estate for More 'Shogun,' Will "Likely Yield" Seasons 2 & 3

It took FX a decade to get a remake of Shōgun off the ground, with the network president John Landgraf referring to the series as the white whale he'd been chasing almost since he first started at the company. They say that good things come to those who wait, and the long wait turned out to be worth it. The response to Shōgun was well nigh rapturous, with critics all but agreeing that it was the best show of the 2023-2024 television season, and the ratings were through the roof, with the show becoming the network's most-watch show ever based on global streaming numbers.

When a show is that successful, the first question is, how do we make more of it? Shōgun was planned as a close-ended limited series, and the James Clavell estate initially only agreed to the single novel. However, when there's money, there's a way, and FX, working with its streaming partner Hulu and the Estate of James Clavell, is working to extend Shōgun, "moving forward to develop the saga" with episodes that will "most likely yield" two additional seasons of the drama series. 

Unfortunately, there's nothing to go on regarding what the producers might be planning. Clavell had six books in his "Asian Saga," of which Shōgun was the first in the internal chronology, though the third was published. However, the book that follows in the chronology is Tai-Pan, which is set in mid-1800s Hong Kong, so obviously not Part 2 of the Shōgun story. There is a second book set in Japan, Gai-Jin (third in the chronology, the last published), but it's also set in the 19th century, and the late 19th century at that. 

No synopsis for the new episodes exists yet, but here is the novel's synopsis to consider:

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.

No cast has been set thus far. However, the show’s key creatives, including its co-creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, who are also the lead writers, are set to return, as is series star Hiroyuki Sanada. All three will executive produce along with Michaela Clavell. 

Pre-production will begin this summer, and casting will follow. Hopefully, Shogun Season 2 will not take a full decade in development hell to get to filming the way Season 1 did.