'Shogun' season 2 adds pop star Ren Meguro to returning cast

'Shogun' season 2 begins filming in 2026, featuring returning leads and new addition Ren Meguro in Vancouver

Production on Shogun season 2 is underway, with pop star Ren Meguro joining the ensemble alongside returning leads Cosmo Jarvis and Hiroyuki Sanada.

The series, adapted from James Clavell’s bestselling novel and inspired by true events, follows English sailor John Blackthorne, shipwrecked in Japan in 1600, whose life intertwines with warlord Yoshii Toranaga.

Season 1 premiered on FX and Hulu in February 2024, achieving record ratings and winning the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama and the Golden Globe for Best Television Drama.

Although a release date for season 2 has not been confirmed, principal photography is set to begin in 2026, with the earliest expected premiere in 2027. FX chairman John Landgraf confirmed that while three seasons were considered, the team is prioritising narrative depth over quantity.

The story will pick up ten years after season 1, exploring a new love story and the consequences of war. Executive producer Justin Marks described it as “an experiment in subverting expectations” and stated it will not directly adapt Clavell’s sequels but will present a wholly original chapter while incorporating previously unused characters.

Returning cast includes Cosmo Jarvis, Hiroyuki Sanada, Fumi Nikaidô, Shinnosuke Abe, Hiroto Kanai, Yoriko Dôguchi, Tommy Bastow, Yuko Miyamoto, Eita Okuno, Yuka Kouri, and Takehiro Hira. New additions include Asami Kizukawa, Masataka Kubota, Sho Kaneta, Takaaki Enoki, Jun Kunimura, and Ren Meguro, who expressed his excitement at joining the production and contributing to its legacy.

Season 2 will film in Vancouver, following the same location as the first season, due to production scale and logistical constraints despite Sanada’s hope to shoot in Japan.

Creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks return as showrunners, supported by a writers’ room including Shannon Goss and Emily Yoshida, with directors Anthony Byrne, Kate Herron, and Marks leading the new episodes.