'Shogun' season 2 just got an ominous update from a prominent Disney executive

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Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden gives a season 2 update to investors

Shogun season 1
(Image credit: Hulu / Disney)

"Shogun" was the biggest hit show last year. But it now sounds like we may be waiting a long time for "Shogun season 2."

At the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference this past Tuesday (March 4), Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden gave an unexpected update on the 18-time Emmy winner.

"We like to bake it carefully," she told those in attendance (h/t Deadline). "We will not release season 2 until it’s ready.”

This isn't the first Disney executive to comment on 'Shogun' season 2

Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai in Shogun

(Image credit: Alamy)

Walden isn't alone in commenting on how Disney is being careful with "Shogun." Back in September, FX chairman of content and productions John Landgraf chimed in about the possibility of a season 3.

"I don’t know that we’re certain there will be three seasons," Landgraf told Deadline following FX's record-breaking night at the Emmys.

He clarified those comments by stating, "It still feels to us like three is the right number of seasons to really do it justice," but it's clear that he doesn't intend to force a season 3 if the story doesn't merit it.

Of course, Landgraf also originally envisioned "Shogun" as a limited series before greenlighting season 2, so there's a history of preaching caution but then still making more episodes of "Shogun." But frankly, the caution regarding this show is merited.

Cosmo Jarvis in Shogun

(Image credit: Alamy)

That's especially true since writing season 2 was always going to be difficult. The first season was initially intended to be a limited series, based on James Clavell's novel "Shogun." This new season will be based on historical events from 17th-century Japan, but the writers are essentially starting from scratch.

That's reportedly led to a difficult writers room, which only recently wrapped up. Filming is now set to begin in the fall, leaving me still hopeful we'll see "Shogun" season 2 in 2026 despite Walden's comments.

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Malcolm McMillan
Malcolm McMillan
Streaming Editor

Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made.

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