FX Drops Extended 'Shogun' Trailer Ahead of Final Marketing Blitz

Head of FX John Landgraf, known as "The Mayor of Television," declared 2024 to be the conclusion of "Peak TV," with the first official downturn in the number of shows produced a year since 2013 when the streaming revolution began. However, the number of shows may be on the wane, but budgets have not yet started contracting to match, at least not yet, though Landgraf suggested it won't be long before those, too, aim for more realistic standards. But before they do, his network, like many, still has a few big budget rollouts to market, such as Shogun, the super expensive remake of the award-winning 1980 miniseries.

Based on the best-selling novel by Australian-born British writer James Clavell, the original Shogun was ahead of its time, a big-budget miniseries starring a mainly British cast made for TV at a time when Jaws had just made American summer blockbusters the hotness of the day. However, like the book, the miniseries was a white savior narrative about Japanese history, leaving it ripe for reinvention in the 21st century.

The Japanese star and an honorary member of the British Empire for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Hiroyuki Sanada (Westworld), has stepped forward to spearhead the long-needed Japanese-centric adaptation, and stars as Lord Yoshii Toranaga. Cosmo Jarvis (Persuasion) plays Englishman John Blackthorne, with Anna Sawai (Pachinko) as Toda Mariko. Here is the extended trailer.