Original Shōgun Director Criticizes FX Remake: "It's Very Difficult for an American Audience to Get Their Grips Into"

FX’s Shōgun took the world by storm, sweeping the Emmys with a record-breaking 18 wins and earning universal critical acclaim. But there’s one person who isn’t sold on the new adaptation, and that’s Jerry London, the director of the 1980 miniseries.

He made it clear that he finds the latest version inaccessible and not engaging for American audiences.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, London didn’t hold back his thoughts, saying, "It’s completely different from the one I did."

His original take on Shōgun leaned heavily into the romance between John Blackthorne and Mariko, while FX’s adaptation dives deeper into the political landscape of 17th-century Japan, exploring the power struggles between warlords and the influence of Catholic missionaries.

"Mine was based on the love story of Shōgun between Blackthorne and Mariko, and this new one is based on Japanese history, and it's more about Toranaga, who was the Shōgun. It's very technical and very difficult for an American audience to get their grips into it."

London believes that the historical depth of FX’s Shōgun makes it a tough watch for many viewers. "I've talked to many people that have watched it, and they said, 'I had to turn it off because I don't understand it.' So the filmmakers of the new one really didn't care about the American audience."

I didn’t think it was hard to understand at all. I haven’t talked ato anyone that has said the series was hard to understand. I think audiences are smarter that London thinks they are.

Despite his criticisms and thoughts, Shōgun has been a major hit, and it was such a big hit that FX greenlit a second season, even though the show has already adapted James Clavell’s novel in its entirety.

Hiroyuki Sanada, who stars as Lord Toranaga, recently confirmed that work on Season 2 has begun, with production possibly starting later this year.