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I know reboots and reimaginings of iconic properties in films and TV are still a hot topic of controversy but there are times when the newest version looks amazing and we have one in our midsts with FX’s epic series Shōgun. Based on James Clavill’s celebrated novel of Feudal Japan, Hiroyuki Sanada leads a stellar cast for the series that will contain heavy doses of drama, romance and brutal battlefield action set pieces with stunning sword and fight choreography that is unrivaled.
Official Synopsis: Its English pilot, ‘John Blackthorne’ (Cosmo Jarvis), 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 (Anna Sawai), 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.
Joining Sanada, who plays Lord Yoshi Toranaga, are Cosmo Jarvis as Pilot Major John Blackthorne, and Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko. The full cast includes Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige, Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi, Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari, Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji, Tokuma Nishioka as Toda Hiromatsu, Shinnosuke Abe as Toda Hirokatsu (Buntaro), Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado, and Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba No Kata AKA Lady Ochiba.
I’ve revisited the original miniseries on several occasions throughout the years so I think I’m going to have to rewatch it in preparation of the new entry hitting. There’s nothing like bloody, barbaric Samurai bloodshed to get the blood pumping and this looks visceral and ambitious in its execution and nothing was spared to get it right while paying homage to the novel and original mini-series.
The 10 episode limited series event will launch on both Hulu and FX in February of next year.
