Fans of the captivating FX series “Shogun” might be disappointed to learn that there will not be a second season of the show. The adaptation of James Clavell’s epic novel concluded its 10-episode run on April 23, leaving viewers satisfied yet hungry for more.
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The series, which also streamed on Hulu, received widespread acclaim for its stellar cast and high production values. However, despite the clamor from fans for a continuation, there are no plans for a Season 2.
While the finale garnered an average grade of “A-” from TVLine readers and the season as a whole earned an exceptional “A+,” showrunners Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo have expressed hesitancy about extending the story further. Marks emphasized that Clavell’s novel provided a comprehensive roadmap, leaving little room for additional storytelling. Furthermore, the fate of several major characters and the conclusive nature of the narrative make it challenging to envision a viable continuation.
In response to inquiries about a potential Season 2, Marks and Kondo have indicated that they are not eager to pursue it. Marks highlighted Clavell’s other works, such as “Tai-Pan,” which he described as a “totally different world,” suggesting that exploring new stories within Clavell’s universe might be more fruitful than attempting to extend “Shogun.”
“[It’s] not even [about] topping the book, but, how do you even equal the roadmap that Clavell laid out? And I don’t know if it’s possible,” Marks told our sister site THR.com. “I don’t know if Clavell could have done it either. That’s probably why he moved on to other books too, right? He knew what he had done.”
AdvertisementSpeaking of those other books in Clavell’s Asian Saga, Marks said that he is in the middle of reading Tai-Pan (“a great book”), which Clavell penned nearly a decade earlier.
“I’ve been telling Rachel about it as I’ve been reading it and saying, ‘Well! He did it again.’ But it’s completely different” — not any sort of prequel or sequel to Shōgun, Marks noted. “It’s about Hong Kong in the early days, a totally different world, so it’s not just ‘playing the hits.’ He’s conjuring new vivid characters that stand 75,000 feet tall all at once.”
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