FX has released another great trailer for its Japanese historical epic Shogun. The ten-episode limited series is an adaptation of James Clavelit’s my best-selling novel and it looks like an incredible project that I’m really excited to look at!
The story is set in Japan in 1600, at the dawn of a civil war that marked a century. In the series “Lord Yoshii Toranaga” (Hiroyuki Sanada) is fighting for his life as his enemies in the Council of Regents unite against him, when a mysterious European ship is found abandoned in a nearby fishing village.
Its English pilot, “John Blackthorne” (Cosmo Jarvis), “comes with secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s enemies: the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants. The fates of Toranaga and Blackthorne become inextricably linked to that of their translator, “Toda Mariko” (Anna Sawai), a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced lineage.”
As she serves her lord in this difficult political landscape, “Mariko must balance her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her, and her duty to her late father.”
The series was created by Rachel Kondo AND Giustino Marchi and when the project was first announced, John Landgraf, CEO of FX Networks, said: “The story of Shogun has captivated audiences since James Clavell first published his epic novel more than 40 years ago. Themes of an outsider encountering a new culture are as relevant today as they were then. We are honored to bring the series to viewers today.”
He added: “There’s a lot of really fun and fascinating work going on to try to balance the story and tell it from both points of view. We’re also casting… really, really wonderful Japanese actors. I agree with your assessment that If [it is to] simply exoticizing and fetishizing Japanese culture through Western eyes and the male gaze probably wouldn’t work. But I think there’s an exciting opportunity to talk about the collision of two cultures from both perspectivesS.”
The cast includes Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige, a notorious backstabber and close ally of Toranaga; Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi, the young leader of the fishing village where Blackthorne’s ship was found; Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari, a powerful bureaucrat who is Toranaga’s main rival; Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji, a widow who must find new purpose in her lord’s fight; Tokuma Nishioka AS Toda HiromatsuToranaga’s trusted general and closest friend; Shinnosuke Abe as Toda Hirokatsu (“Buntaro”), Mariko’s jealous husband; Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado, the brash son of Toranaga with a strong desire to prove himself; AND You smoke Nikaido as Ochiba no Kata, the revered mother of the heir who will stop at nothing to put an end to Toranaga and its threat to her son’s power.
The limited series will arrive on Hulu in the US, as well as Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in all other territories in February 2024.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
