FX confirms January production start as the Emmy-winning epic charts a “wholly original” new chapter.
First, the series conquered the Emmys. Now it’s leaping a decade into the future—with its fiery English pilot back at the helm.
FX revealed today that Cosmo Jarvis returns to Shōgun for the drama’s second season, reuniting with lead actor-producer Hiroyuki Sanada after the show’s record-setting 18-statue haul.
A fresh battlefield—and fresh titles
Jarvis, whose John Blackthorne ignited Season 1’s culture-clash intrigue, will also serve as co-executive producer.
Sanada, already a producer, is upped to executive producer for Season 2, cementing the duo’s creative influence on what FX calls “a wholly original new chapter.”
Where Season 2 picks up
- Time jump: 10 years after Toranaga’s civil-war victory
- Setting: Feudal Japan, but production stays in Vancouver
- Story hook: Lord Toranaga and Blackthorne remain “inextricably entwined” as political storm clouds gather once more
Series architects Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo drew inspiration from unused corners of James Clavell’s novel, even though no sequel text exists. “We found threads we couldn’t explore the first time,” Marks told Deadline earlier this year.
Behind the camera
Returning EP roster: Marks, Kondo, Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca, and Sanada.
Cosmo Jarvis returns to Shōgun* not just as star but as a decision-maker—rare for a sophomore season that began life as a limited series.
Why Vancouver again—no castles, no problem
Hopes of relocating to Japan faded after FX chair John Landgraf cited the lack of intact medieval castles and stage space. Instead, the team will rebuild Edo-era sets outside Vancouver, where Season 1 secretly filmed through pandemic restrictions.
No back-to-back shoot (yet)
Landgraf cautions that a third season isn’t guaranteed, though three chapters feel “right.” Season 2 alone starts cameras in January; any renewal will wait on scripts, budgets, and FX’s crowded slate.
Emmy-power momentum
Cosmo Jarvis returns to Shōgun
Season 1 became FX’s most-watched show ever and its first Drama-Series winner. Sanada made history as the first Japanese Lead Actor winner; Anna Sawai became the first Asian actress to claim Lead Actress but won’t return—her character Mariko died in the finale. Cosmo Jarvis returns to Shōgun* as one of only two surviving principals, raising the stakes for new cast additions not yet announced.
What’s next for fans
- Writers’ room: Closed in April; outlines locked.
- Production: Starts January 2026 in Vancouver soundstages and coastal forests.
- Premiere estimate: Late 2026 at the earliest, streaming on FX, Hulu, and Disney+ internationally.
For now, devotees can savor the certainty that Cosmo Jarvis returns to Shōgun, promising more muskets, strategy, and cross-cultural friction in TV’s most lavish samurai saga.
Shogun
Shōgun is an American historical drama television series created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks. It is based on the 1975 novel by James Clavell, which was previously adapted into a 1980 miniseries. Its ensemble cast includes Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, Takehiro Hira, Tommy Bastow, and Fumi Nikaido. The production features a mostly Japanese cast and the majority of the dialogue is in the Japanese language.[1]
Initially conceived as a miniseries, the first season premiered its first two episodes on February 27, 2024, on FX on Hulu and FX, with the rest being released weekly until April 23, 2024. It received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for the directing, writing, visuals, production values, performances of its cast, and faithfulness to the source material. Following its success, a second and third season began early development.[2]
In 2024, Shōgun became the first Japanese-language series to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, with its first season winning 18 categories at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards and 76th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, setting a new record as the most awarded single season of television in Emmy history.[3][4] It additionally received four Golden Globe Awards, including Best Television Series – Drama and acting wins for Sanada, Sawai, and Asano.
