I’ve been waiting for this news for what feels like forever, and it’s finally here! FX dropped a major update yesterday, April 30, 2025, that Shogun Season 2 is officially set to begin production in January 2026 in Vancouver. As a huge fan of the first season, I’m beyond excited to see what’s next for this incredible historical drama. With Hiroyuki Sanada and Cosmo Jarvis confirmed to return, and a 10-year time jump in the story, there’s a lot to unpack. Let’s dive into what this means for the show and why I’m already counting down the days.
A Long-Awaited Return to Feudal Japan
Shogun took the world by storm when it premiered in February 2024, becoming FX’s most-watched show ever with 4.27 billion minutes of viewing time on Nielsen’s streaming charts. It also made history at the 2024 Emmys, winning a record-breaking 18 awards, including Best Drama Series, Best Actor for Sanada, and Best Actress for Anna Sawai. The story, based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel, follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Sanada), a powerful daimyo, and John Blackthorne (Jarvis), an English sailor, as they navigate the political chaos of feudal Japan in the 1600s. The first season ended with Toranaga outsmarting his enemies and Blackthorne accepting his new life in Japan, leaving fans like me hungry for more.
The show was originally billed as a limited series, with Season 1 covering the entire novel. But its massive success led FX to greenlight two more seasons in May 2024, a move that had fans cheering but also wondering how they’d continue the story without source material. Now, with production starting in January 2026, it’s clear the team has a plan—and I’m dying to see what they’ve come up with.
What We Know About Season 2
According to Variety, Season 2 will pick up 10 years after the events of the first season, continuing the “historically-inspired saga” of Toranaga and Blackthorne, whose fates remain deeply intertwined. This time jump is intriguing—it means we’ll likely see Toranaga as the shogun, a title he was poised to claim at the end of Season 1, inspired by the real-life Tokugawa Ieyasu. History tells us Tokugawa spent the next decade consolidating power and eventually passing the shogunate to his son, Hidetada, while maintaining ties with William Adams, the real-life basis for Blackthorne. I’m curious to see how the show will fictionalize this period, especially since co-creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks have said they’re crafting an original story rather than adapting more of Clavell’s Asian Saga novels, which jump to different eras.
Hiroyuki Sanada is back as Toranaga, and he’s also stepping up as an executive producer this season, which makes me feel even more confident in the show’s direction. Sanada’s performance was a highlight of Season 1—his quiet intensity and strategic mind made Toranaga a character you couldn’t look away from. Cosmo Jarvis is also returning as Blackthorne, aka “The Anjin,” and he’ll serve as a co-executive producer. I loved Jarvis’s portrayal of Blackthorne’s fish-out-of-water struggle, and I’m excited to see how his character evolves after a decade in Japan. Will he still be trying to rebuild his ship, the Erasmus, or will he have fully embraced his role in Toranaga’s world?
Other cast details are still under wraps, but I’m hoping we’ll see more familiar faces. Anna Sawai’s character, Lady Mariko, died in Season 1, which was a gut punch, so she’s likely out unless they use flashbacks or dream sequences—something Sanada hinted at in a past interview, saying “ghosts” or “dreams” could bring back characters. I’d love to see Takehiro Hira return as Ishido Kazunari, Toranaga’s rival, since he survived Season 1 and could still stir up trouble. The production team is also reportedly casting new roles, including Japanese actors fluent in English and Dutch speakers, which hints at expanded storylines, maybe involving more European traders.
Behind the Scenes: A New Chapter Begins
Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks are back as showrunners, and they recently wrapped the writers’ room for Season 2, which will have 10 episodes, just like the first. They’ve been working on this since at least December 2023, and Marks shared at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards that they’d finished writing the finale, saying they hope fans will be “surprised” by the big ideas in the first episode of Season 2. I’m already trying to guess what those surprises might be—maybe a new rebellion, like the real-life siege of Osaka Castle, or a deeper look at Blackthorne’s role in building Toranaga’s navy?
Filming will take place in Vancouver, where Season 1 was shot, despite early hopes from Sanada that they might film in Japan for authenticity. FX chairman John Landgraf explained that logistical challenges—like the lack of intact medieval castles in Japan and limited production capacity—made Vancouver the better choice. Season 1’s shoot took nine months, wrapping in June 2022, and the show didn’t premiere until February 2024, nearly 20 months later. If Season 2 follows a similar timeline, starting in January 2026, we might not see new episodes until late 2026 or even early 2027. That’s a long wait, but I’d rather they take their time to get it right.
Why I’m So Excited—And a Little Nervous
Shogun Season 1 was a near-perfect blend of political intrigue, cultural depth, and breathtaking visuals, all elevated by its stellar cast. The fact that a largely subtitled show broke through the “one-inch barrier” and became a global hit speaks to its quality. But I’ll admit, I’m a bit nervous about Season 2. The first season had Clavell’s novel as a roadmap, but now Kondo and Marks are in uncharted territory, creating an original story. They’ve got a 900-page “bible” of Japanese history and customs to guide them, which they used for Season 1, but there’s a risk the new season might not capture the same magic without the book’s structure.
That said, I trust this team. Kondo and Marks have talked about the “creative chaos” of writing Season 2, throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks, and their passion for the characters shines through. Sanada has also teased that they’re not just following history—they want to create “original entertainment” with surprises for the audience. Plus, the 10-year time jump opens up so many possibilities. Will we see Toranaga’s vision for Japan come to life? How will Blackthorne fit into this new era? I’m hoping for more of the show’s signature mix of tension, betrayal, and quiet, emotional moments—like Mariko’s sacrifice in Season 1, which still gives me chills.
The Bigger Picture: What’s at Stake?
This announcement also makes me think about the state of TV production today. Fans on X have been vocal about how long it’s taking for shows like Shogun to return—Season 1 aired over a year ago, and we won’t see Season 2 until at least late 2026. That’s a three-year gap, and some are worried it’ll make it hard to remember plot details or even stay invested. I get the frustration—other shows like Stranger Things and The 3 Body Problem have faced similar delays, with gaps stretching to three or four years. But for a show as complex as Shogun, with its period setting, intricate sets, and heavy post-production needs (think editing, VFX, and sound design), I’m okay with the wait if it means they maintain the quality.
There’s also a broader question about the story’s direction. Some fans on X have pointed out that Clavell never wrote a direct sequel to Shogun, instead exploring other eras in his Asian Saga, like Tai-Pan and Noble House. They wonder if FX should have adapted those books instead of continuing Toranaga and Blackthorne’s story. I see their point—those books are incredible, and I’d love to see the Struan family on screen—but I’m glad we’re getting more of these characters. There’s still so much history to draw from, like the real Tokugawa shogunate’s rise, and I trust Kondo and Marks to make it compelling.
Counting Down to Season 2
Shogun Season 2 is shaping up to be an exciting new chapter, even if we have to wait a while to see it. With production starting in January 2026, Sanada and Jarvis returning, and a 10-year time jump promising fresh conflicts, I’m already imagining what’s in store. Will Toranaga face new threats as shogun? Will Blackthorne finally find a way back to England, or is he in Japan for good? I’m also hoping for more stunning visuals and gut-wrenching moments—the first season set a high bar.
If you’re as impatient as I am, you can rewatch Season 1 on Hulu or Disney+ (or JioHotstar in India) to relive the magic. For now, I’m marking my calendar for January 2026 and keeping my fingers crossed for more updates soon. What do you think about the time jump and the return of Toranaga and Blackthorne? Let me know—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
