Shogun’ Nears Season 2 Renewal at FX as Star Hiroyuki Sanada Signs Deal to Return

By Ethan Shanfeld

“Shōgun” may be returning for a second season as star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada has signed a deal with FX to return as Lord Yoshii Toranaga in the Japan-set historical epic, sources tell Variety.

The show was billed as a limited series, but, as Variety reported Thursday, FX is considering moving “Shōgun” into the drama categories in this year’s Emmy race.

FX declined to comment.

Sources indicate that, in the event of a Season 2 renewal, Cosmo Jarvis would likely also return to reprise his role of Pilot-Major John Blackthorne. Of course, there are plenty of other pieces that must fall into place before an official greenlight.

Should “Shōgun” be renewed, FX would majorly shake up the Emmys race, pitting the big-budget series against drama contenders “The Crown,” “The Morning Show” and “Fallout,” as opposed to vying limited series “Baby Reindeer,” “Fellow Travelers,” “Ripley” and “True Detective: Night Country.”

Written by Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, “Shōgun” follows a shipwrecked English sailor who gets wrapped up in the blood-splattered chessboard of feudal Japanese politics. Set in the 17th century and across multiple continents, “Shōgun” is FX’s most expensive series to date. Luckily for FX, it surpassed “The Bear” Season 2 to become the network’s biggest Hulu premiere, with 9 million views across Hulu, Disney+ and Star+ in its first six days of availability.

Sanada, whose credits include “John Wick: Capter 4,” “Bullet Train,” “Army of the Dead,” “Westworld” and “Avengers: Endgame,” is repped by Gersh, Axon Entertainment, Lighthouse Entertainment, MPR and Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton.