A brand new adaptation of James Clavell’s Shōgun is finally reaching our screens. (The last one, starring Richard Chamberlain and Toshiro Mifune, was in 1980!) The series follows the arrival of Englishman John Blackthorne in to feudal Japan, and weaves complex tale of politics, loyalty, tradition, and violence, at a time when losing your head can mean “literally” losing your head. In this Goggler exclusive, we spoke to Shōgun co-creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, as well as executive producer Michaela Clavell, about getting into the novel in 2024, character points of view, and the novel’s progressive nature.
Click here to check out our review of Shōgun on The Goggler Podcast.
We also spoke to cast members Cosmo Jarvis, here, and Anna Sawai here.
The first two episodes of Shōgun drops on Disney Plus Hotstar on Tuesday, February 27.
When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, John Blackthorne, comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies — the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants. Toranaga’s and Blackthorne’s fates become inextricably tied to their translator, Toda Mariko, a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced line. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her and her duty to her late father.
Shogun was created by Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo and stars Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai, Cosmo Jarvis, Tadanobu Asano, Hiroto Kanai, Takehiro Hira, Moeka Hoshi, Tokuma Nishioka, Yuki Kura, Fumi Nikaido, Yasunari Takeshima, Toshi Toda, Hiro Kanagawa, Nestor Carbonell, Yuki Kura, Tommy Bastow, Yoriko Doguchi, and Shinnosuke Abe.
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