How FX’s Epic New Historical Drama Is Different From Game Of Thrones Detailed By Director

Shōgun director Jonathan van Tulleken has weighed in on his new show’s comparisons to Game of Thrones, explaining how the historical drama differs from HBO’s hit fantasy show. Based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell, FX’s latest adaptation follows on the heels of a previous 1980 television miniseries and even a Broadway musical. Set in feudal Japan during the 17th century, the first few episodes of Shōgun have garnered rave reviews and drawn multiple comparisons to Game of Thrones.

While speaking with Deadline, however, van Tulleken did not quite agree with his show’s comparisons to HBO’s Game of Thrones. Instead, he explained that Shōgun is truly “a character piece” centered on political intrigue, where conversations are as potentially deadly as anything else. Instead, the show’s director posited that either Succession or House of Cards would be a far more apt comparison. He also spoke about the importance of Japanese voices in the show’s creative process. Check out his comments below:

Truly, it is a character piece and it is about this intrigue. This is a dangerous world where violence can come out of nowhere, but the real danger is in the machinations. A conversation can be as dangerous as anything else. A better comparison [than Game of Thrones] would be Succession or House of Cards. This is made hand in hand with the Japanese because it is a story about two cultures encountering each other and seeing ourselves in each other. We are way past [the western gaze] in terms of audience sophistication and the stories we want to tell. What we really want to tell is a story of political intrigue, imprisonment and entrapment.

Could Shōgun Continue Beyond Season 1?

Initially conceived as a 10-episode miniseries, at this stage there is no indication that there are any plans for FX to continue their Shōgun adaptation after they have covered the events contained in Clavell’s original book. However, given the positive buzz surrounding the show’s debut, combined with the benefit of Clavell’s later books in the Asian Saga, there may be sufficient interest in seeing the show continue into a possible season 2 and beyond.

However, if FX does decide to continue adapting Clavell’s other books, it would suggest that future seasons would likely follow a very different story and setting than that of 17th-century Japan. While many of Clavell’s later novels explore the experience of European characters in various Asian cultures, leading all the way up to the events of World War II, his 1993 book Gai-Jin could potentially form the best basis for a potential season 2.

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Shogun’s Time Period Explained: Japan’s Rulers, Portuguese Priests & World Trading

FX’s Shōgun takes place at the end of the 16th century in the aftermath of the Warring States period with a fictional story based on real events.

Set 262 years after the events of Shōgun, Gai-Jin is loosely based on a real-life political incident that saw a British merchant killed, leading to the Anglo-Satsuma War of 1863. Featuring the character Yoshi Toranaga, a direct descendant of Lord Yoshii Toranaga (played by Hiroyuki Sanada), Gai-Jin could potentially offer audiences the same kind of political intrigue and machinations that are currently causing audiences and critics to shower FX’s new Shōgun adaptation with praise.

New episodes of Shōgun air Tuesdays on FX followed by Hulu.

Source: Deadline

Shogun

Shogun is an FX original mini-series set in 17th Century Japan. Shogun follows John Blackthorne, who becomes a samurai warrior but is unknowingly a pawn in Yoshii Toranaga’s plan to become Shogun. The series stars Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne and Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga, along with Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, and Yûki Kedôin.

Cast

Cosmo Jarvis , Hiroyuki Sanada , Anna Sawai , Tadanobu Asano , Yûki Kedôin

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu

Writers

Maegan Houang , Rachel Kondo , Justin Marks , Emily Yoshida

Directors

Frederick E.O. Toye , Jonathan van Tulleken