As the upcomingFX epic seriesShōgunnears its premiere, FX decided to unveil a sneak peek into the show’s production in order to confirm what we already suspected: The series is a massive and ambitious endeavor that is every bit as meticulous as it looks. Aside from showing new footage, the five-minute clip also features interviews from the production team and cast, which includesAnna Sawai(Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) anHiroyuki Sanada(John Wick: Chapter 4).
On the sneak peek, Sawai herselfbreaks down the story ofShōgunandcalls the series “groundbreaking.” The show centers around an English pilot who arrives in Japan immediately after the death of Japan rulerTaiko Nakamura, in the 16th century. He deals with political turmoiland the clash of culturesas he tries to find his place within Japanese society. That’s how he meets Mariko (Sawai), the Catholic translator who is assigned to accompany him after his arrival.
The trailer had already revealed thatShōgunwas going to bean ambitious undertaking, but the sneak peek underscores this by showing its massive set pieces andstunning production design. Should the series live up to the expectations it’s building, we could be looking at one of 2024’s must-watch titles that is bound to resurface during the awards season.
‘Shogun’ Showrunners Reveal Core Themes of The Series
ShōgunshowrunnerJustin Marks(Top Gun: Maverick) reveals that the series’ core themes are “agency and control over the path of one’s fate.” Additionally, series co-creator and writerRachel Kondoteased that the series is filled with “visceral experiences” as characters from different backgrounds, culture, gender and ethnicity come together to find a common ground. Regardless of how the series is received, it will already go down in history as one of the few American TV shows thatdepicted ancient Japanon a massive scale and with an ambitious storytelling purpose.
The limited series is based on a best-selling novel of the same name by authorJames Clavell. The cast also featuresTadanobu Asano(Thor: Ragnarok),Hiroto Kanai(Tuna Girl),Takehiro Hira(Gran Turismo),Moeka Hoshi(Dependence),Tokuma Nishioka(Ultraman Mebius),Shinnosuke Abe(13 Assassins),Yuki Kura(A Girl on the Shore),Fumi Nikaido(Why Don’t You Play in Hell?) andCosmo Jarvis(Peaky Blinders).
FX premieres Season 1 ofShōgunon February 27. You’ll also be able to stream the series on Hulu.
You can watch the sneak peek below:
Shogun (2024)
When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, Lord Yoshii Toranaga discovers secrets that could tip the scales of power and devastate his enemies.
