It’s seemingly been years in the making, but FX’s much-anticipated global event series for Hulu, “Shōgun,” is finally coming in February 2024. (Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in all other territories). Moreover, Hulu and FX have also revealed the first trailer for the series.
The series stars Japanese veteran Hiroyuki Sanada, known recently for “Bullet Train,” “John Wick: Chapter 4” “Army of the Dead” and an entire career of Japanese films (“The Ring”) that goes back to the 1960s (he started as a child actor), and up-and-coming British actor Cosmo Jarvis (“Lady Macbeth”). Anna Sawai, recently seen in “Monarch Leagcy of Monsters” and the acclaimed “Pachinko” Apple TV+ series, co-stars.
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Based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name, the ten-episode limited series is set in Japan in the year 1600s and follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Sanada), who must fight for his life after his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. Jarvis plays “John Blackthorne,” an Englishman found when his ship is stranded who comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power.
Here’s the official synopsis.
FX’s Shōgun, an original adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel, was created for television by Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks. The 10-episode limited series is set in Japan in the year 1600, at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Producer Hiroyuki Sanada stars as “Lord Yoshii Toranaga,” who is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, “John Blackthorne” (Cosmo Jarvis), comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies — the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants. Toranaga’s and Blackthorne’s fates become inextricably tied to their translator, “Toda Mariko” (Anna Sawai), a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced line. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her and her duty to her late father.
The limited series features a highly decorated Japanese cast, unprecedented for an American production, including Tadanobu Asano as “Kashigi Yabushige,” a notorious backstabber and close ally of Toranaga; Hiroto Kanai as “Kashigi Omi,” the young leader of the fishing village where Blackthorne’s ship was found; Takehiro Hira as “Ishido Kazunari,” a powerful bureaucrat who is Toranaga’s chief rival; Moeka Hoshi as “Usami Fuji,” a widow who must find new purpose amidst her lord’s fight; Tokuma Nishioka as “Toda Hiromatsu,” Toranaga’s trusted general and closest friend; Shinnosuke Abe as “Toda Hirokatsu” (“Buntaro”), Mariko’s jealous husband; Yuki Kura as “Yoshii Nagakado,” the brash son of Toranaga with a strong desire to prove himself; and Fumi Nikaido as “Ochiba no Kata,” the revered mother of the heir who will stop at nothing to put an end to Toranaga and his threat to her son’s power.
“Shōgun” was created for television by Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks, with Marks serving as showrunner and executive producer. Also serving as executive producers are Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca, and Kondo. Hiroyuki Sanada serves as a Producer. FX Productions produced the series.
“Shōgun” premieres February 24 on Hulu, and we are super excited about this one. Watch the first trailer below.