‘Shōgun’ Is Officially Returning

FX and Hulu are officially bringing Shōgun back for not one, but two additional seasons.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, FX and Hulu are developing two more seasons of Shōgun in collaboration with the estate of James Clavell, author of the acclaimed novel on which the series is based. Co-creators, executive producers, and writers Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo are on board, along with Hiroyuki Sanada, who is also said to be involved with development. The networks are bringing writers in over the summer to work out how to expand upon the story.

Recently, Deadline reported that FX closed a deal with Hiroyuki Sanada to return for a second season of Shōgun, the limited series based on James Clavell’s classic novel. Sanada, who also produced the first season, would reprise his role as Yoshii Toranaga, the strategic lord of Kanto who breaks from the council of regents and allies with a similarly ambitious Englishman named John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis).

It’s hardly surprising that FX wants to continue Shōgun—the series is a massive streaming hit for FX and beloved by critics for its nuanced performances (asterisk Jarvis, whose boorish Blackthorne evokes an unhinged Tom Hardy—compliment), excellent writing, and stunning cinematography. All of which—combined with a sprawling recreation of 17th century Japan—has also made Shōgun an incredibly expensive project for FX, which spent a reported $250 million on the series.

Now that Shōgun season 2 is coming together, FX has moved to reclassify the series as a drama for the 2024 Emmy Awards, where it was initially set to compete as a limited series.