Shogun Season 2? Hiroyuki Sanada Signs Return Deal
A Deadline exclusive reveals that FX’s limited series Shogun may no longer be limited. Star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada (Yoshi Toranaga) has surprisingly signed on to return for a potential second season. Sanada’s involvement was considered essential before the creators moved forward with production. The first season’s unexpected critical and commercial reception led to this possibility. Both the original novel by James Clavell and the 1980 miniseries end where season 1 ends. This shift would change the show’s category at the Emmys from limited series/miniseries to drama, shaking up the nominees. Shogun is a fictionalized exploration of the events leading to the creation of the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan’s Sengoku period.
Well, I’m late to the party; I saw the 1980 Richard Chamberlain version (which is excellent) a few years ago, but I’m just now halfway through the new one. I haven’t read the book. I love the new series so far, although I don’t like this version of Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis); Chamberlain played the character as a disrespectful jerk, too, but he was likable and funny. This one broods too much and has no charm about him. However, other facets, like the social dynamics surrounding Toranaga and other prominent Japanese characters, are explained better here. I don’t see the need for another season; I understand they want to proceed for financial gain, but the story is over. Not knowing exactly what Toranaga will do is part of the ending’s bitter sting. If there is another season, I will watch it out of curiosity, but I’m grimacing thinking about it.
Comments (2)
I saw the Tai-Pan miniseries and while I love Pierce Brosnan, I found the story and characters in Shogun superior. But having not read the books, I defer to your knowledge on them.
One would be a fool NOT to sign onto a continuation of something successful because nothing succeeds like success. If you ever get a chance to win at life, please, repeat that experience.
Clavell wrote other books. Shogun just had that title, but I liked the writing in Tai-Pan.
He also wrote another Japanese novel called Gai-Jin, and I do not know if I read that one, but his other books were good. Good writing flow.
Like other great authors, the Shogun writer had a military background, which means discipline. I think writing tends to be weak outside of military and clergy backgrounds. BTW, I have neither.