Ren Meguro (Phases of the Moon, Silent) is the latest to be cast in the upcoming second season of FX‘s Shōgun. The J-pop star, actor and model is set to play Kazutada.
He joins the recently announced returning cast, including Hiroyuki Sanada, playing Toranaga, Cosmo Jarvis as Blackthorne, Fumi Nikaidô as Ochiba, Shinnosuke Abe as Buntaro, Hiroto Kanai as Omi, Yoriko Dôguchi as Kiri, Tommy Bastow as Alvito, Yuko Miyamoto as Gin, Eita Okuno as Saeki, and Yuka Kouri as Kiku. Season 2 will also welcome Asami Mizukawa, who will play Aya, Masataka Kubota as Hyūga, Sho Kaneta as Hidenobu, Takaaki Enoki as Lord Ito, and Jun Kunimura as Gōda.
In the first season, an original adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel, Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Sanada) fought for his survival as his enemies in the Council of Regents united against him. When a mysterious European ship was found marooned in a nearby village, its English pilot, John Blackthorne (Jarvis), shared vital strategic secrets with Toranaga that tipped the scales of power in his favor to win a century-defining civil war.
Season 2 of Shōgun is set ten years after the events of the first and will continue the history-inspired saga of two men from different worlds whose fates are inextricably entwined.
“I am incredibly honored to join the cast of Shōgun season two,” shared Meguro in a statement. “When I streamed Shōgun on Disney+ last year, I was profoundly moved by the series’ unique and grand portrayal of Japan, which felt different from past portrayals. As a Japanese person, I felt a compelling urge to be part of this groundbreaking production.”
He added, “I am committed to honoring the legacy that so many have built before me and to carefully shaping the role entrusted to me in this remarkable series. I can’t wait for everyone to see the release of Shōgun season two and to share in this incredible journey with us.”
Production on the new season is set to start in January in Vancouver. When the show returns, U.S. audiences will have new episodes available via linear on FX and streaming on Hulu. Internationally, the title will be available to stream on Disney+. Season 1 can be watched on Hulu now.
The FX Productions series is created for TV by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks and produced by FX Productions. Marks and Kondo are executive producers alongside Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca, and Sanada.
Meguro is a member of the chart-topping J-pop boy band Snow Man, as well as a multiple award-winning film and television actor, who currently serves as a global ambassador for fashion house Fendi.