Hulu's 10/10 Historical Series Is So Good, It's Getting Two Extra Seasons

Published Jul 12, 2026, 11:24 PM EDT

Soon after its premiere in 2024, FX on Hulu's Shōgun went on to become one of the most praised series of the year. It was even compared with some of the greatest modern TV series, like Game of Thrones, as it earned almost unanimous acclaim from viewers and critics. Even now, it holds a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 99%.

Shōgun eventually went on to become the first Japanese-language series to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series and even broke the record for the most awarded single season of television in Emmy history with wins in 18 different categories. Its upcoming season is already in the works and is expected to achieve similar feats.

Shōgun​​​​​ Was Supposed To Be A Miniseries, And Now It Isn't

Shōgun​​​​​'s creators initially intended it to be a one-and-done series that adapts the full length of its source material in one season. As planned, the show even concludes its run exactly where the book reaches its end. However, soon after season 1's release, Shōgun​​​​​ rose in the ranks to become one of the biggest cultural phenomenons in modern television.

Its record-breaking streaming numbers and historic sweep at the Emmys proved its immense potential, prompting its creators and executives to greenlight it for two more seasons. The scripts for all 10 episodes of season 2 have already been completed while its production has been in full swing since January 2026.

Reports also confirm that its story will take a 10-year jump, with many key cast members set to return.

While actors like Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Fumi Nikaido, Shinnosuke Abe, and Hiroto Kanai will reprise their respective roles, new ones like Jun Kunimura, Asami Mizukawa, Masataka Kubota, and Sho Kaneta are set to join the roster.

Most details surrounding its upcoming season's story remain under the wraps. However, Shōgun​​​​​ season 2 is expected to head toward the historical Siege of Osaka after the 10-year jump from season 1's final events.

How Shōgun​​​​​ Can Extend Its Story For 2 More Seasons

Since Shōgun​​​​ has already burned through the original James Clavell novel, it is hard not to be curious about where the show will go in its upcoming seasons. With the 10-year jump, the show will seemingly not focus on the immediate aftermath of the events from season 1's ending.

​​​​​​​Instead, it will re-introduce the same characters and walk through how they are processing their grief while navigating the political landscape a decade after Toranaga's consolidation of power. Like season 1, Shōgun​​​​​​​​​​​'s upcoming installments will also likely take creative liberties and loosely base themselves on real history.

However, after the time jump, season 2 can be expected to focus on the latter stages of John Blackthorne's life while featuring Ochiba no Kata​​​​​​​ as its central political force. Shōgun​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ season 1 loosely focuses on the build up towards the 1600's Battle of Sekigahara.

Owing to this, it is hard not to believe that season 2's events will lead up to 1615's Siege of Osaka, which would give incredibly high stakes and allow it to set up an even more compelling season 3. While only time will tell what the Hulu show's creators have planned for its upcoming installments, it is hard not to be excited about its next chapter and how it will extend beyond its source material's lore.

Shogun

8/10

Release Date 2024 - 2026-00-00