FX's 'New Game of Thrones' with 99% Critic Score Developing Seasons 2 & 3
It’s official: Shogun is getting not one but two more seasons right off the bat, but we’re not thrilled at the prospect — and neither should be you.
Summary:
- FX’s Shogun became an instant hit, and what began as a mini-series can now be turned into a full-scale TV show.
- Seasons 2 & 3 are already in early development, but FX won’t greenlight them until the scripts are complete.
- Shogun Seasons 2 & 3 can prove a huge mistake since original author James Clavell never wrote a sequel.
FX and Hulu ’s historical drama Shogun premiered on February 27, 2024 and did the seemingly impossible. Throughout the years, many shows have tried to claim the title of “the new Game of Thrones, ” but Shogun became the first title to actually pull off such an ambition, unanimously dubbed as such by many fans and critics alike.
This year’s sensation just received a promising but also scary update: it might just extend far beyond the original mini-series. Here’s what we know so far.
Shogun Seasons 2 & 3 Are In the Works
FX is teaming up with original novel writer James Clavell’s family to continue Shogun beyond Season 1 — which was supposed to be the only one. A team of writers has been assembled to pen out the scripts of not one but two more seasons. Bold move.
For now, “in the works” means very early pre-production: the writing process is yet to be started, and FX will only greenlight the show if the room’s end result would be able to match Season 1’s brilliance. But there are many problems with this renewal attempt, from cast to stories to source material… You name it, and it’s likely an issue.
Why Shogun Seasons 2 & 3 Shouldn’t Be Made
There are only two directions the potential new seasons of Shogun can take: either building upon the stories of the original characters or following other novels from James Clavell’s Asian Saga. Each of these options is difficult, to say the least.
The latter option is decent as apart from Shogun, there are also Tai-Pan, Gai-Jin, and Noble House. The problem with these is that they are not continuing Shogun’s story — so while they could be turned into great adaptations, labeling them as “Shogun Seasons 2 & 3” would be dubious at best. If anything, these novels could get their standalone mini-series — but definitely not under the same title.
The version with expanding the stories of the original characters is supported by Hiroyuki Sanada’s contractual obligation to return to the show if it gets renewed. But apart from the star actor, there’s a massive elephant in the room: James Clavell never continued Shogun, so there will be no source material for Seasons 2 & 3.
The second option sets the “new Game of Thrones” up for repeating history. Benioff and Weiss also did a marvelous job at adapting George Martin ’s books and decided they could go beyond source material — and we all know how that worked out. Shogun’s Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo should tread very lightly to avoid the same fate if they decide to follow through with their sequel idea.
Source: THR