Amidst the blockbuster TV shows set to release in 2024 – like Prime Video’sFalloutand Netflix’s live-actionAvatar: The Last Airbender– lies the potential sleeper hit of the year in FX’sShōgunminiseries. If the name sounds familiar, FX’s new 10-episode series shares its name and its source material with a short-lived series from 1980 starring Richard Chamberlain and Toshiro Mifune, which has gone on to be considered a cult classic.
FX officially announced the series way back in 2018, however, multiple delays, including shooting being halted due to the COVID pandemic, pushed the release date back by half a decade to 2024.Shōgunfinished shooting in June 2022 and has since been in post-production, with the series set to hit Hulu in 2024, although a specific date has yet to be unconfirmed. But what isShogunabout? And why could thisstory of a Western samuraibe the sleeper hit of 2024?
Shōgun Is Based on a Best-Selling Epic Novel
Shogun (2024)
Written by Australian/British writer James Clavell,Shōgunis a 1000+ page epic first published in 1975. Filled with murder, romance, war, and intrigue,Shōguntells the story of British sailor John Blackthorne, whose shipwrecks off the coast of Japan. After being taken captive by a local lord, Blackthorne, fearing for his life in an unknown foreign country, works his way to the right-hand side of the local Daimyo (lord) Yoshii Toranaga. Meanwhile, Toranaga finds himself outnumbered by his rivals at Osaka castle and uses Blackthorne as a pawn to secure his courtly power. Sprawling well over a thousand pages,Shōgun’s story slowly unravels as dozens of new characters, threats, romances, and rivals play their part in one of the best-writtenhistorical political thrillers.
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Alongside its impossible-to-put-down story,Shōgunwas also heavily praised for its accuratedepictions of Japanese cultureduring the 1600s. Author of the companion academic journalLearning from Shōgun: Japanese History and Western Fantasy, Henry Smith, said, “In sheer quantity,Shōgunhas probably conveyed more information about Japan to more people than all the combined writings of scholars, journalists, and novelists since the Pacific War.”
What makesShōgun’s story even more incredible is that it is actually loosely based on a true story. In 1600, English navigator William Adams was recorded as the first English person to sail to Japan and became closely involved with the Shōgun, becoming the first Western Samurai.
Providing FX do right by the source material – which is never a guarantee with adaptations of any kind – 2024’sShōgunhas the potential to be one of the best modern samurai stories ever told. Alongside the true story of William Adams, the novel has identifiable influences from theworks of Akira Kurosawa, especially in the novel’s sprawling battles, and to see these brought to life with 21st-century filmmaking technology would be breathtaking. It is vital that FX’sShōgunnails the action design, as the novel is filled with incredible fights, both large-scale battles and one-on-one duels, and a lazy reliance on CGI would remove the sense of spectacle found in classic Japanese action cinema.
Shōgun Was Made Into a Short Series in 1980
As previously mentioned,Shōgunwas previously adapted into a TV show in 1980, which ran for five episodes before being canceled. Although that series has received renewed popularity with modern audiences as a cult classic, it is far from a perfect adaptation. The biggest criticism the show received was its reluctance to explore the Japanese characters' perspectives, one of the most intriguing and important aspects of the book. Instead, the 1980 series honed in on John Blackthorne as the show’s sole protagonist, with everyone else relegated to supporting characters.
FX’sShōgunhas the opportunity to make things right and live up to the educating presence the novel has had on Western audiences since publication. At its soul,Shōgunis a story of cultural exploration, where members of two sharply contrasting societies collide and grow from each other. The novel dove head first into exploring and breaking the stereotypes the two cultures had formed of each other, not just from a Western perspective, but also dissecting how theJapanese viewed Westernersat the time – through the influence of both the sailors that shipwrecked, and the various Christian missionaries sprawled across Japan during the time period.
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The incredible source material isn’t the only reason FX’sShōgunhas the potential to be one of 2024’s best series. The show also boasts an incredible creative team and cast. The new series has been developed by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks (Top Gun: Maverick), with Marks acting as Showrunner. James Clavell’s daughter, Michaela Clavell, will serve as an Executive producer on the show. The series willstar Hiroyuki Sanada(John Wick 4), Cosmo Jarvis (Lady Macbeth), Anna Sawai (F9: The Fast Saga), and Tadanobu Asano (Thor) in front of the camera.
The novel is also the first book in a much larger series known as theAsia Saga. This means that if FX’sShōgunis a success, there is the potential to see the entirety of James Clavell’s acclaimed series brought to life. The brand-new trailer forShōguncan be found below. The series will air on FX and stream on Hulu when it releases in February 2024.
