The Real Reason FX's Shogun Likely Won't Get A Season 2

Everyone else connected to “Shōgun” seems to have differing opinions on whether a 2nd season is possible. Cosmo Jarvis told The Direct that he too felt as if the material had been exhausted. Michaela Clavell, James’ daughter and one of the show’s executive producers, had a different point of view: “The audience will let us know whether there’s … appetite for that. We shall see. It’s a great question. I wish I knew the complete answer, but I don’t.” Anna Sawai noted that there’s another possible avenue FX could take; they could adapt another of Clavell’s novels, even though it would require following different characters through different time periods. 

Justin Marks himself appears to be softening a bit on the topic compared to his comments in February. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in April alongside series co-creator Rachel Kondo, he said, “I don’t know. I keep saying it’s like we want to let everyone be on the same page when it comes to the book. And hopefully now the TV audience and the book audience are on the same page with what the story is and where it resolves. I think if we had a story, if we could find a story, we would be open to it. But I don’t think that anyone ever wants to be out over their skis without a roadmap and everything. And it’s also just about, do people want more of it?”

When the interviewer answered in the affirmative, Marks expressed concern at the notion of moving on without Clavell’s work to guide him. Time will tell if Marks and Kondo will adapt another of Clavell’s novels or just let their single-season hit stand as is.