ShōgunSeason 2: What We Know About the Show's Return — and the "Darker" Story It Will Tell

Mar. 15, 2025

Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga in ‘Shogun’ season 1.Photo:Katie Yu/FX

Katie Yu/FX

Shōgunis far from over.

Based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name, the FX/Hulu historical drama is set in 17th-century Japan and follows the political ambitions of three characters whose lives become entangled.

As the trio navigates growing political tensions,Shōguntakes viewers across a whirlwind of drama and battle. By the end of the first installment, though, there are hints that Toranaga and Blackthorne’s time together is only beginning despite their loss of Mariko.

Off-screen, the show has garnered critical acclaim —winning 14 out of its 16 nominationsat the 2024 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, along withwinning all four Golden Globesit was nominated for in January 2025, includingbest television series - drama.

From returning cast members to the show’s future arc, here’s everything to know aboutShōgunseason 2.

How did season 1 ofShōgunend?

Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne and Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga in ‘Shogun’.Katie Yu/FX

Ishido, under the belief that the young heir to the shogun title and his mother, Ochiba-no-kata (Fumi Nikaido), are on his side, thinks his win will be quick and easy so long as the heir’s banners fly alongside his own.

But things aren’t necessarily all that they seem, as the true nature of Toranaga’s plan slowly begins to unravel.

Anna Sawai as Lady Toda Mariko in ‘Shogun’ season 1.Katie Yu/FX

After sentencing one of his subjects, Kashigi Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano), toseppuku, a ritualistic suicide, for his treason and secret allyship with Ishido, Toranaga honors his friend with one last conversation on what he’s been secretly orchestrating all this time.

It turns out that Mariko (who dies in the show’s penultimate episode) and Toranaga planned her death in Osaka to sway Ochiba to their side.

With Ochiba secretly promising Toranaga that she and the heir won’t be joining Ishido in the upcoming battle, Ishido will have no other option but to drop his banners and call off the war, hopefully bringing peace to the realm.

Toranaga also revealed that he was the one who gave orders to sink Blackthrone’s ship in an effort to keep him in Japan and help him build a fleet.

Shōgun’s finale ends with Toranaga watching over Blackthorne as he begins efforts to salvage his ship, and the future of the realm and its characters’ fates within it remains open-ended.

Will there be a season 2 forShōgun?

Tokuma Nishioka as Toda Hiromatsu and Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado in ‘Shogun’ season 1.Katie Yu/FX

Yes,Shōgunis officially returning with a season 2.

The news cameon the heels of rumorsthat the show would continue past its original 10 episodes and its entry into the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards in the drama categories versus the limited series sections. (Shōgunis currently in the running for25 nominations.)

Speaking toThe Hollywood Reporterin June 2024, co-creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo confirmed that developments have already begun.

Kondo explained that they’re in the midst of “creative chaos” for season 2 as they figure out what’s next for theShōguncharacters.

“It’s been exciting and nerve-wracking because, obviously, this is uncharted territory,” she said in reference to season 1 ofShōguncovering all of Clavell’s novel. “We don’t have a roadmap, we just have history.”

What willShōgunseason 2 be about?

Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi and Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga in ‘Shogun’.Katie Yu/FX

Co-creator Marks hinted in his conversation withThe Hollywood Reporterthat season 2 ofShōgunis shaping up to be tonally “darker” than season 1.

“There’s a lot of great conspiracy theory in history,” he said. “A lot of different theories about, ‘Oh, it was said that this went on, but this really went on,’ and those little darker corners are what we’ve really enjoyed exploring.”

Marks added, “Part two is, as second chapters go, kind of a darker chapter."

Although season 1 ofShōgunmostly covered all the bases of Clavell’s novel, historically, there’s a lot more source material forShōgunto pull from. The show has so far mastered a balance of fact and fiction, and it’s likely season 2 will continue to turn to the former as its inspiration for a larger, dramatic story.

Fumi Mikado as Ochiba no Kata in ‘Shogun’ season 1.Katie Yu/FX

Toranaga is based on the real-life Japanese leader,Tokugawa Ieyasu, who established the Tokugawa shogunate that reunified Japan and ruled over the country’s government from 1603 until 1868.

Season 2 ofShōguncould dramatize Ieyasu’s turbulent ascent into power and the establishment of his regime, which ushered in Japan’s Edo period. This likely means that season 2 could show Toranaga further consolidating his power and legitimizing his shogunate with Edo, modern-day Tokyo, as his stronghold.

Blackthrone’s arc for season 2 is also likely to draw material from his real-life inspiration, William Adams, who served as an advisor to Ieyasu until his death in 1620, much like Blackthrone’s relationship with Toranaga inShōgun.

However, the last episode ofShōgunseason 1 showed future scenes of Blackthorne returning to England and having grandchildren, so it’s not clear how much the show will stick to Adams’ real story.

Who will be in theShōgunseason 2 cast?

Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Hiroyuki Sanada and Tadanobu Asano attend the Los Angeles premiere of FX’s “SHOGUN” on February 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

So far, ofShōgun’s season 1 main cast, Hiroyuki Sanada is the only member confirmed to return. Days before season 2 was announced, he signed on to reprise his role as Lord Yoshi Toranaga for another installment, according toDeadline.

Speaking toThe Hollywood Reporterin June 2024 on where season 2 might be headed, Sanada, who was also a producer for the first 10 episodes, shared, “We don’t have James Clavell’s novel anymore, but we learned his spirit and the taste of storytelling. All his DNA is in our bodies, I believe.”

According to Sanada, there will be a mix of returning and new cast members in the show’s second season, though he didn’t give away too many details.

“We’re going to have half [of the Season 1] cast remaining, and then half new cast coming,” he toldVarietyin February 2025. “We are finding the best crew for next season now, so I’m excited.”

Meanwhile, things seem less clear for the future ofShōgun’s second leading man, Cosmo Jarvis, with no confirmation on Blackthorne’s comeback to the show yet.

Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado in ‘Shogun’ season 1.Katie Yu/FX

In an April 2024 interview withVanity Fair, the actor spoke about the difficulty of leaving the character behind, saying, “Blackthorne totally preoccupied and consumed me, and had for so long.”

“When it came to the final shot, it was just horrific, because it’s only then that I suppose Blackthorne had to be left behind and all of these adventures had to be left behind. And it was just kind of sad, you know?” he added. “I suppose in a way it was relieving, but also, then you’re just another unemployed actor, and you don’t know what’s going to come next.”

One main cast member who likely will not return to the show is Anna Sawai, whose character Mariko died inShōgun’s penultimate episode.

On whether or not her character might come back for season 2 via flashbacks, Sawai toldThe Hollywood Reporterin June 2024,“They can do that. I don’t know if it’s necessary though. I don’t want them to write something just to have her in it, like it feels a little forced.”

Still, she wouldn’t mind being back on set in a different way. “I just want to watch it as an audience. I was telling them I’m happy to go to set and like walk the dogs or be with the horses, that’s my next job,” Sawai joked.

When is theShōgunseason 2 release date?

Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga on ‘Shogun.'.Colin Bentley/FX

Colin Bentley/FX

As of right now, a release date forShōgunseason 2 hasn’t been announced.

However, Marks and Kondo have been planning the new season since December 2023, and it’s steadily in development. In January 2025,Varietyreported that Marks confirmed they were “about six weeks from the end of the writers room” for the second season’s episodes.

Another update came in February 2025, when Hiroyuki Sanada toldVarietythat they expect to begin shooting the episodes later in the year.

“We are aiming for the fall of this year, and the writers’ room is working so hard now,” he said.

While the co-creators continue brainstorming, writing and potentially bringing on more returning cast members, there is no trailer for season 2 ofShōgunyet.

How many seasons ofShōgunare planned?

Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige and Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga in ‘Shogun’.Katie Yu/FX

Shōgunis slated for a three-season run.

While the show was initially intended as a limited series, the success of its first season greenlit two more seasons, but currently, there seem to be no plans for a fourth.

In his interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Marks shared, “The third season is really an ending. We know where it starts, and we know where it ends, and we know who is there on that journey.”

He continued, “We’re just focusing on part two right now to really make sure we can get to that point."

Where can I watch and streamShōgun?

Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne in ‘Shogun’ season 1.Katie Yu/FX

Shōgunseason 1 is available to streamon Hulu.

Viewers can also watch the first 10 episodes if they’re signed up for any of its affiliate bundles like Disney+.

source: people.com