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FX finally has a real 'Shōgun' Season 2 update — and fans are losing it (in a good way)

'Shōgun' returns to Vancouver as new sets rise, familiar faces resurface, and a time jump hints at a very different chapter ahead

It's finally happening, and yes, it took its sweet time. After months of silence and fans squinting at every FX update, 'Shōgun' is officially back in motion. Season 2 of the historical epic has started rolling cameras in Vancouver. Production is now underway and expected to stretch on for at least half a year. It explains why locals have started spotting massive set pieces popping up near the water and why phone photos and videos are suddenly circulating online. People living near the filming areas have been sharing glimpses of large-scale builds.

Local Vancouver outlets have confirmed that both Hiroyuki Sanada and Cosmo Jarvis are currently in the city shooting new material. While the production team hasn't handed out a neat list of filming locations, several recognizable setups have already been spotted in and around Port Moody. Some of the most talked-about images are coming from the old Flavelle Sawmill site beside Rocky Point, a location that will feel very familiar to fans of the first season. That same waterfront property previously stood in for Osaka Harbour and Castle, transformed into a detailed 17th-century coastal village with towering structures, a massive temple, and even a ship positioned far from open water.

Locals have now noticed the site being reshaped again. Videos from nearby residents show crews hard at work, cranes looming overhead, and wooden frameworks rising piece by piece. That shouldn't surprise anyone who remembers how 'Shōgun' approached its first season. The series used a wide range of locations across the Lower Mainland, including Port Moody, Belcarra, Coquitlam, Burnaby, and North Vancouver's Princess Park, as reported by Vancouver Is Awesome. Vancouver Island also played a role, with scenes filmed in Ucluelet. Meanwhile, big historical dramas don't come along often, especially ones that manage to hook viewers with the very first season. 

Ever since 'Game of Thrones' debuted in the early 2010s, networks have chased that same lightning, hoping swords and ancient worlds might strike gold again. Some came close. Many didn't. Audiences have largely relied on spin-offs like 'House of the Dragon' or 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms', along with projects like 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power', to scratch that itch. That's where 'Shōgun' surprised everyone. In 2024, Hulu and FX released the first season of the samurai drama starring Sanada and Jarvis, adapted from James Clavell's novel. It didn't rely on dragons or magic. Instead, it trusted political tension and carefully built characters. 

Originally, that was supposed to be it. Season 1 covered the entirety of Clavell's book, and the series was positioned as a one-and-done event. But demand didn't fade. It grew. Viewers wanted more, and against typical caution, Hulu made the call to extend 'Shōgun' beyond its source material, ordering both a second and third season, according to Collider. Now the real mystery begins. Details about the storyline for Season 2 are being guarded closely, and for good reason. With the novel already fully adapted, the show is stepping into fresh territory. What has been confirmed is that the new season will pick up ten years after the events of the first.