Original 'Shogun' Director Criticizes FX's Record-Breaking Adaptation

Jerry London, director of the 1980 miniseries, argues the new adaptation prioritizes historical accuracy over accessibility for American audiences.

Jerry London, director of the 1980 'Shogun' miniseries, expressed dissatisfaction with FX's 2024 adaptation, calling it 'not entertaining' for American viewers.
London criticized the new series for focusing on Japanese history and political intricacies, claiming it lacked the accessibility and emotional depth of his version's central love story.
The FX adaptation, which premiered in 2024, became the most awarded single season in Emmy history, winning 18 awards, including Best Drama Series, and marking the first Japanese-language series to do so.
London suggested the series' awards success was due to limited competition and noted that the press failed to adequately acknowledge his original adaptation's legacy.
A second season of FX's 'Shogun,' which will go beyond the original novel's storyline, is reportedly in development with filming potentially starting later this year.