Summary
If you’ve been missing the critically acclaimed FX/Hulu seriesShōgun, one of Hiroyuki Sanada’s better movies is now streaming on Netflix. Sanada masterfully portrayed Lord Yoshii Toranaga in the celebrated series, who is based on the real-lifeJapanese shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. As far as literary source material goes,Shōgunhas completed its story based on James Clavell’s classic novelalone. Still, a second season ofShōgunhas surprisingly been annoucned as being in development.
Sanada is confirmed to star inShōgunseason 2if it happens as planned. Before appearing onscreen together inShōgunas Lord Toranaga and his disloyal daimyo Yabushige,Hiroyuki Sanada and Tadanobu Asano previously worked togetheron the 2021 film adaptation ofMortal Kombat. Both Sanada and Asano will reprise their roles as Scorpion and Lord Raiden inMortal Kombat 2, which does not currently have an established release date but could arrive sometime in 2025.
Shogun Already Faces The 1 Problem That Killed Game Of Thrones, But I’m Not Worried
Shogun season 2 faces some stark challenges without any source material to back it up, but it does have one major advantage over Game of Thrones.
Shogun’s Hiroyuki Sanada Stars In Life (& It’s Now Streaming On Netflix)
Sanada has starred in many classic films and television series before his outstanding performance inShōgun, which has a great shot of earning him his first Emmy nomination. He starred in 2013’sThe Wolverineand 47 Roninas well asMortal Kombat,Westworld,Bullet Train, and John Wick: Chapter 4more recently. He is also featured in the 2017 space sci-fi horrorLifeas Sho Murakami along with Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson, and Jake Gyllenhaal.
If that cast alone isn’t enough to pique viewers' interest, the film earned a positive Rotten Tomatoes score of 68% and also features an originalscreenplay by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, the minds behindDeadpoolandZombieland.Lifefollows a team of scientists aboard the International Space Station who discover a remarkable yet fictional life form that they discover ended life on Mars and is heading to Earth next.
How Shogun’s Story Can Continue In Seasons 2 & 3 (Based On Real Life History)
Shōgun is guaranteed to have at least 2 more seasons and should continue to chronicle the legendary historical conflicts of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Hiroyuki Sanada Plays A Key Role In 2017’s Life
Sanada is a standout in the space horror film
Lifefeatures an interesting premise and four outstanding actors, which alone makes it an enticing choice for a space sci-fi horror. It’s in the same vein as other classic films of the subgenre such asAlienwhile featuring a modern visual approach as seen in space films such asGravity.Without giving anything away, Sanada plays a crucial part inLifethat acts as one of the most impactful aspects of the film. Fans ofShōgunwho have recently discovered Sanada will enjoy seeing the accomplished yet underrated actor in a more modern and accessible role, which is exactly whatLifehas to offer.
It’s Difficult To Believe Shogun Season 2 Can Work Without The Show’s Most Impactful Character
While Shogun season 2 is certainly an exciting announcement, it will struggle to reach the heights of season 1 because of one major cast absence.
Shogun
Cast
Shōgun, released in 2024, is set in Japan during 1600 at the onset of a significant civil war. It follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga as he battles political adversaries on the Council of Regents, while a European ship mysteriously appears in a nearby fishing village, complicating the tides of power.
