FX and Hulu have officially announced plans for two additional seasons of the hit drama series Shogun. The network has partnered with the estate of author James Clavell to extend the show, with both seasons currently in development pending creative approval. A writers room is being assembled to explore a continuation of Shogun beyond Clavell's original novel.
The creative team behind Shogun, including co-creators, executive producers, and writers, as well as star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada, are all actively involved in the development of the new seasons. Shogun, which concluded its first season in late April, has become FX's most-watched show ever based on global hours streamed. The 10-episode first season is currently available for streaming on Hulu.
The decision to renew Shogun for two more seasons comes after initial reports in May suggested that FX was considering extending the series beyond its original limited series format. The show, initially billed as a limited series, has proven to be a massive success for the network.
Shogun is also notable for being the most expensive scripted show ever produced by FX, with years of development leading up to its debut. The series, based on Clavell's 1975 novel, marks the second adaptation of Shogun following a miniseries that aired on NBC in 1980.
The debut season of Shogun garnered nine million streaming views globally across Hulu, Disney+, and Star+, making it a standout success for Disney's general entertainment offerings. FX CEO John Landgraf has expressed openness to investing in high-budget programming like Shogun if it resonates with audiences.
The future of Shogun beyond the upcoming seasons remains uncertain, with the creative team acknowledging the challenges of maintaining the quality and depth of the original source material. However, discussions about the potential continuation of the story have been ongoing since production began.
