Shōgun season 2 is happening - filming starts in January with a time jump and a stacked cast
If you've been waiting on news about Shōgun, you can stop refreshing your feed - Disney just dropped the update fans wanted. Season two is officially gearing up, with cameras set to roll in Vancouver this January and a mix of returning stars and new faces locked in.
The first season wasn't just a hit - it made history. Shōgun became the first Japanese-language series to win the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series and racked up 18 awards overall, the most ever for a single season.
The story jumps forward
Season two is set more than a decade after the events of season one. The official tease keeps it simple: "Part two of Shōgun is set ten years after the events of the first season and continues the historically-inspired saga of these two men from different worlds whose fates are inextricably entwined."
Translation: John Blackthorne and Lord Yoshii Toranaga still have unfinished business. And honestly, that's where the tension lives - two leaders bound by choices they can't take back.
Who's back
Hiroyuki Sanada (movies and tv series) and Cosmo Jarvis (movies and tv series) are both returning as Toranaga and Blackthorne - the core dynamic that powered season one. Several season-one players are also returning.
- Fumi Nikaidô
- Shinnosuke Abe (movies and tv series)
- Hiroto Kanai (movies and tv series)
- Yoriko Dôguchi
- Tommy Bastow (movies and tv series)
- Yuko Miyamoto (movies and tv series) ("Gin")
- Eita Okuno (movies and tv series)
- Yuka Kouri (movies and tv series)
Quick refresher: the series follows English pilot John Blackthorne and Japanese lord Yoshii Toranaga in 1600s Japan - their story cutting through politics, faith, and survival, with Lady Mariko (played by Anna Sawai (movies and tv series)) as a crucial bridge between them. And yes, Mariko is a Japanese noblewoman.
New faces joining season two
- Asami Mizukawa (movies and tv series) (Rebooting)
- Masataka Kubota (movies and tv series) (Radiation House)
- Sho Kaneta (movies and tv series) (Ultraman Arc)
- Takaaki Enoki (movies and tv series) (Noh Mask Murders)
- Jun Kunimura (movies and tv series) (The Wailing)
It's a strong set of additions - the kind of casting that signals the show isn't playing it safe in its second chapter.
Behind the camera
Season one directors Hiromi Kamata and Takeshi Fukunaga (movies and tv series) are back in the rotation. Anthony Byrne and Justin Marks (movies and tv series) will also direct episodes, with writing from Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks, Shannon Goss (movies and tv series), Matt Lambert, Maegan Houang, Emily Yoshida (movies and tv series), Caillin Puente, and Sofie Somoroff.
Here's what that could mean: continuity where it counts, with a few fresh perspectives to push the story into new territory without losing the feel that worked.
Production and release timing
Filming starts in Vancouver in January. No release date yet - and that makes sense. The show's scope is big, and post-production takes time.
If you're trying to plan coverage: a late-2025 window is possible, but 2026 wouldn't be surprising given the scale. We'll know more once production is underway.
Source material and where to watch
Shōgun is adapted from James Clavell (movies and tv series)'s bestselling 1975 novel, which was previously turned into a 1980 miniseries. The new series stands on its own - but it's rooted in that sweeping historical canvas.
Want to catch up or rewatch before season two? You can stream Shōgun season one on Disney+. For show info direct from the network, there's also the official page at FX Networks.
Bottom line: the second season is moving, the leads are back, the story jumps forward a decade, and the creative team looks steady. More intrigue. More fallout. And probably a few choices that will haunt everyone involved - us included.
