From the beginning, “Shôgun” is a novel, written by James Clavell, which since its publication in 1975 has sold more than 15 million copies. In 1980 it became a TV series starring Richard Chamberlain.
In a brand new TV version, Cosmo Jarvis plays the role of English sailor John Blackthorne who is stranded in early 17th century Japan and becomes involved in complicated and bloody clan wars. The English sailor who discovers Japan is a character loosely based on the historical navigator William Adams.
The American creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, who are also married, tell us via Zoom that it has been a tough journey towards a finished series.
Cosmo Jarvis plays the English sailor John Blackthorne. Photo: Disney+
– The series is actually older than both of our children. We’ve been doing it for five years, but if we knew what we had in front of us when we started, I don’t know if we would have dared to do this, says Justin Marks.
So it was harder than you first thought it would be?
– We had no idea how complex, wild, unpredictable and long the journey would be. But the reward has been just as wild, unpredictable and unexpected, says Rachel Kondo.
Justin Marks explains that the pandemic made the entire creative process more difficult and longer.
– We wanted the series to be special and not like anything else shown on television, and to succeed in that we needed to go to places where no one else goes, he says.
They say they strove to recreate the gripping sense of tension from the novel.
Of the series’ ten episodes, Swedish Charlotte Brändström directed one.
– We had 15 days of recording for the third episode. It was fun, I got to bring a Swedish photographer with me, so I brought Aril Wretblad with me, who I know, she says.
The team built it the Japanese city of Osaka by the sea in Vancouver where everything was filmed. Brändström says that the biggest challenges were the storm and getting everything as perfect and authentic as possible.
– It was very interesting and exciting. We had terrible storms so it was hard. When you have people dressed up in costumes and wigs from the 17th century and it’s just pouring down non-stop, it takes a very long time to try to make it look like it’s not raining. And being able to go from make-up to set in torrential rain and floods was very interesting, but it turned out great, she says.
Brändström has previously directed Swedish film series such as “Wallander”, “Johan Falk” and “No one without debt”. She promises an eventful third episode with lots of action.
Fakta.Shôgun
Om Shogun: Novel by James Clavell from 1975 that becomes a television series of ten episodes.
Creator: Americans Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks.
Main roles: Hiroyuki Sanada (Lord Yoshii Toranaga), Cosmo Jarvis (John Blackthorne) och Anna Sawai (Toda Mariko).
Premiere date: Tuesday, February 27 on Disney+.
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