Hiroyuki Sanada signs on to reprise his role in Shogun
Shogun star Hiroyuki Sanada has worked out a deal to reprise his role as Lord Yoshii Toranaga in a prospective second season of the program, reported Deadline on Friday.
Sources stated that the continued involvement of the 63-year-old actor, who starred in and produced the hit series, with the project was considered instrumental to a potential renewal.
However, the historical drama program – which has received widespread critical acclaim – has not officially been renewed for a second season, although several deals are being worked on in hopes of a continuation.
The outcome of the process will determine if Shogun is to be considered as a limited or drama series, which will affect its chances during the upcoming awards season.
The limited series category for the upcoming Emmys race is considered to be one of the strongest ever put together, partially due to the effects of the 2023 entertainment industry strikes on the production of drama series.
Shogun star Hiroyuki Sanada has worked out a deal to reprise his role as Lord Yoshii Toranaga in a prospective second season of the program, reports Deadline; seen in April
Sources stated that the continued involvement of the 63-year-old actor, who starred in and produced the hit series, with the project was considered instrumental to a potential renewal
Shogun is based on James Clavell’s novel of the same name, which was published in 1975.
The novel was also adapted into a miniseries, which starred Richard Chamberlain and Toshiro Mifune, in 1980.
The show, which is set in 1600s-era Japan, is centered on the relationship between a shipwrecked English sailor and a feudal lord.
Lord Toronaga is partially based on Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of Japan’s Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled the country for over two centuries.
In addition to Sanada, the cast of the program includes performers such as Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai and Tadanobu Asano.
Shogun made its debut on both FX and FX on Hulu this past February and ran for a total of ten episodes.
The series became a hit with critics following its premiere, and it holds a rating of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The show was also well-received by viewers in Japan, where it was praised for its relative historical authenticity.
However, the historical drama program – which has received widespread critical acclaim – has not officially been renewed for a second season, although several deals are being worked on in hopes of a continuation
The outcome of the process will determine if Shogun is to be considered as a limited or drama series, which will affect its chances during the upcoming awards season
Sanada recently spoke about Shogun with USA Today and stated that, during the production of the show, he wanted to ensure that the program accurately reflected Japanese culture; seen in April
Sanada recently spoke about Shogun with USA Today and stated that, during the production of the show, he wanted to ensure that the program accurately reflected Japanese culture.
‘When I came to Hollywood, my mission was to show our culture correctly. If there was a wall between East and West, I want to break it down,’ he said.
The performer also remarked that he was particularly proud to have been able to work as a producer on the show.
‘For the first time I have the title. For the first time, I’m not consulting as an actor. After 20 years in Hollywood, I’m a producer. It means I can say anything, anytime.’
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