FX chairman John Landgraf has revealed a filming start date for Shogun season 2 and an estimated completion time. Shogun season 1, an adaptation of James Clavell’s classic novel about medieval Japan, proved to be an unexpected success for Landgraf and FX. Though the first season covered the entirety of Clavell’s book, FX has announced that Shogun season 2 will air, with Hiroyuki Sanada reprising his role as the ever-scheming Lord Toranaga.

The second season of Shogun does not yet have a premiere date, but Landgraf recently provided an update on when filming may begin, indicating that the ball will most likely not start rolling until 2025. See his remarks below (via Variety):

We’re hoping to be in production relatively early next year. But it’s a long production period. I think between principal and second unit days of photography, that show shot between 180 and 190 days or more, could have been close to 200.

When will Shogun Season 2 air, and what will it be about?

Landgraf’s loose update on the Shogun season 2 start date is good news because it confirms that plans are still in the works. The FX executive does, however, provide a sobering assessment of how long it will take to complete work on the second season. According to Landgraf’s timeline, Shogun season 2 is unlikely to arrive on FX and Hulu before 2026, leaving a two-year gap between seasons.

While it is disappointing to learn that Shogun will most likely not return until 2026, such a lengthy production time is entirely understandable for a show of this scale. The lengthy production of season 1 was worthwhile, as the end result was a truly memorable show that felt epic in scope while also delivering intimate human drama and satisfyingly intricate storytelling.

Shogun season one has a 99% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

It would be unfortunate if FX and company rushed Shogun season 2, as this would most likely result in a decline in quality. The plot for the upcoming season is being kept under wraps. The story told in Clavell’s original novel has already been fully adapted, allowing producers to create their own season 2 narrative. It is worth noting that season 1 ended with Toranaga and his clan on the verge of war, raising the possibility that season 2 will cover the military conflict that follows the events depicted in season 1.

Source: Screen Rant