FX is traveling back to the time of the samurai (and the blockbuster miniseries): The network has ordered a new miniseries adaptation of Shōgun, TVLine has learned.
Based on the bestselling 1975 novel by James Clavell, Shōgun is set in feudal Japan and follows the clash between two ambitious men: English sailor John Blackthorne, who finds himself shipwrecked in Japan; and Lord Toranaga, a powerful daimyo, or lord, who has political rivals jockeying for his position. The story also includes a female samurai named Lady Mariko, “a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance,” per the official description.
FX calls Shōgun “its largest international scale production to date,” with Eugene Kelly (Westworld) and Ronan Bennett (Public Enemies) set to write the 10-episode series. Veteran TV director Tim Van Patten (Game of Thrones, The Sopranos) will helm multiple episodes.
The story of Shōgun has already been told on TV: A 1980 NBC miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain and Toshiro Mifune became a national sensation, scoring more than 20 million viewers per broadcast and winning three Emmys.
Hopefully this happens. They had announced plans to do this back in 2013 along with what became The People v. O. J. Simpson.
again #wehavenoNewideas #fail only remakes, reboots…
Maybe my favorite novel ever. It has it all. Adventure, exotic local, politics, power, love, war, and samurai swords. It is a great yarn.
I just think that if you’re going to redo it on TV, it should be on HBO, or some other place where it can be treated more like Game of Thrones, instead of being neutered for broadcast TV. We already have that version.
This isn’t broadcast. This is FX. They do pretty much everything HBO does except full frontal nudity.
Agreed. It should make it a fun watch if done correctly.
FX is actually a highly curated network. Exec John Landgraf oversees everything and has an eye for a winner. I actually like that it’s on FX so we won’t have the inevitable unnecessary nude scenes HBO is notorious for (sexposition anyone?).
This is interesting to me. I watched the 1980 version back in my high school history class and it was great. I would love to see what they could do now. So weird I was just thinking of this show last night.
A show with white main protagonist in an asian-centric show in current day and age? Good luck with the twitter crowds.
Most of the white characters in the book don’t come off that well. They’s either Blackthorne’s shipmates. Unhygenic and uneducated and (rightfully) looked down upon by Japanese society. Or they are Portuguese clergy trying to scheme against the English Blackthorne. And Toranaga is a master mind and manipulator himself.
This is not The Last Samurai or Dances With Wolves. This is political intrigue by all players, including Blackthorne.
if it aint broken why fix?
the 80’s was great , why make new one?