Cameras are officially rolling for season 2 of Shōgun, the FX historical drama based on the iconic novel by James Clavell. A Disney shareholder call today not only confirmed that production on season 2 is underway, but also gave an idea of when the series will return. We'll be watching Shōgun season 2 sometime in 2027, though the exact month hasn't yet been pinned down — which is not surprising, given the early stage of production.
This is news that we've been waiting for. Following the acclaimed first season of the show in 2024, showrunners Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo took their time creating the follow-up, refusing to commit to a second season that didn't live up to the first. This was crucially important, given that season 1 adapted the entirety of the novel, so any future outings would be in totally uncharted waters.
These narrative knots were finally unraveled in early 2025, paving the way for the series to begin filming in January 2026. It's not entirely clear if filming began later than planned, but either way, things are rolling for the second season now and the show's now set a firm schedule for its future.
Hiroyuki Sanada, who plays lead role Yoshii Toranaga as well as produces the series, spoke in an exclusive behind-the-scenes teaser for the Disney presentation. "I am Hiroyuki Sanada, and I'm honored to share that production has begun on season 2 of FX's Shōgun," he began. "This new season grows in every direction. Story, scale, emotion, what we are creating is something you've never seen before. We are so excited to continue this epic saga, and to welcome audiences back into the world of Shōgun next year."
The video did include a few scenes filmed for the new season, including Toranaga presiding over a gathering of nobles, glimpses at a long-haired and harried John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), and the return of fan-favorite character Usami Fuji (Moeka Hoshi). There was no sign of Anna Sawai, who played the translator Toda Mariko, but that's to be expected given the tragic fate of her character during season 1.
Given the scenes shown in the video, which I imagine will make its way to the internet before too long, it stands to reason that Shōgun has been filming for weeks if not months already. It's a good sign for the series!
Season 2 will pick up 10 years after the events of season 1, which means it's very likely that it will explore Toranaga's reign as the leading warlord of Japan during the start of the Edo period. Fans have good reason to be both excited and nervous. The show is now operating without any source material. At the same time, it set a record for winning 18 Primetime Emmy Awards, and clearly has an extremely passionate team behind it. If anyone can manage to continue Clavell's story on screen past the events of hte novel, they can.
Shōgun season 2 will premiere sometime in 2027. This is a developing story, and we'll have our ear to the ground for more updates.