The acclaimed historical drama Shōgun is officially returning for a second season, with production set to begin in January 2026 in Vancouver. The new season will feature the return of its lead stars alongside new cast members and will tell a story set a decade after the events of the first season.
Returning and New Cast Members
Hiroyuki Sanada will reprise his Emmy-winning role as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, with Cosmo Jarvis returning as the English pilot John Blackthorne. They will be joined by a host of returning cast members from the first season, including Fumi Nikaidô as Ochiba, Shinnosuke Abe as Buntaro, and Hiroto Kanai as Omi. Other confirmed returning actors are Yoriko Dôguchi as Kiri, Tommy Bastow as Alvito, Yuko Miyamoto as Gin, Eita Okuno as Saeki, and Yuka Kouri as Kiku.
The show is also adding new faces to its ensemble. The new cast members include Asami Mizukawa in the role of Aya, Masataka Kubota as Hyūga, Sho Kaneta as Hidenobu, Takaaki Enoki as Lord Ito, and veteran actor Jun Kunimura as Gōda.
Story Details and Creative Team
The story for Shōgun Season 2 will be set ten years after the conclusion of the first season. It will continue the saga of Lord Toranaga and John Blackthorne, two men from entirely different worlds whose destinies remain linked. The new season will explore a new chapter in their lives and the evolving political landscape.
The writing team from the first season is returning to shape this new story. The writers include co-creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, alongside Shannon Goss, Matt Lambert, Maegan Houang, Emily Yoshida, Caillin Puente, and Sofie Somoroff.
Behind the camera, directors Hiromi Kamata and Takeshi Fukunaga, who directed notable episodes in the first season, will return to direct episodes for the second season. They will be joined by new directors for the show, including Anthony Byrne, Kate Herron, and co-creator Justin Marks.
Production Background and Release
The first season of Shōgun was a major critical and commercial success for FX. It made history at the 2024 Emmy Awards by winning 18 awards, breaking the record for the most Emmy wins by a series in a single season. Hiroyuki Sanada became the first Japanese actor to win the Emmy for Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
While an official release date for the new season has not been announced, the start of production in January 2026 suggests a potential premiere in 2027. When it returns, U.S. audiences can watch new episodes on FX with streaming available the next day on Hulu. International viewers will be able to stream the series on Disney+.
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