FX’s Shōgun series is currently being compared by fans and critics with HBO’s hit fantasy show Game of Thrones, and director Jonathan van Tulleken disagrees with the claims. While he acknowledges the fact that it is a spectacle, the filmmaker has another comparison in mind.
Shōgun was created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks as a limited historical drama series based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same title. The cast includes Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, Takehiro Hira, Tommy Bestow, and Fumi Nikaido.
Shōgun Director Isn’t Amused With Show’s Comparison To Game Of Thrones
While speaking with Today via Deadline, director Jonathan van Tulleken says HBO’s Succession and Netflix’s House of Cards are better comparisons to Shōgun than George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones.
“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.”
There is an earlier version of a 1980 limited series produced by NBC which was also based on the 1,200-page novel. Interestingly, the filmmaker remarked that the Japanese version shies away from the Western gaze.
“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.”
Because of the elements found in the show depicting 17th-century Japan, critics could not help but find similarities with Game of Thrones. The immersive settings, acrimonious politics, and extreme violence give off the same vibe as the epic HBO saga. The Washington Post’s Lili Loofbourow wrote:
“Shogun will inevitably be compared to Game of Thrones because it hits that proven combination of gorgeous set pieces, moral ambiguity, cliffhangers (literally, in one case!), and extreme, distressing violence. Also, perhaps, because it so gratifyingly marries the pleasing grandeur of an epic with juicy psychological stakes.”
The first two episodes that aired on February 27, 2024 were helmed by Jonathan van Tulleken, who is also tapped to direct Amazon’s Blade Runner 2099.
Will There Be Shōgun Season 2?
With the current hype on the show, many would be asking if Shōgun is already gearing up for a second season. Executive producer Michaela Clavell shared via The Direct that the fans will more likely have a say in the decision.
“You know, the audience will let us know whether there’s, there is their appetite for that. We shall see. It’s a great question. I wish I knew the complete answer, but I don’t.”
As mentioned, the debut episodes of Shōgun are out now and available to watch via Hulu and FX. New episodes will be released every week until April 23, 2024.
