Two years after the exceptional debut of the Emmy-winning FX/Hulu series Shōgun, it looks like Netflix has finally found its own version of the historical epic.
Shōgun took the TV world by storm when it was released in late February 2024, so much so that the initial plan for a miniseries expanded into two additional seasons. It won 18 Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series, as well as Best Actor and Actress in a Drama Series.
Shōgun season 2 isn’t expected to be released until sometime next year, but Netflix’s upcoming samurai action epic should be able to fill that void for the time being.
The newly released trailer of Netflix’s samurai period drama series Last Samurai Standing shows promise that it could become the streamer’s response to the massive success of Shōgun. The 6-part series will drop on Thursday, November 13, exclusively on Netflix.
Netflix itself has compared Last Samurai Standing to Shōgun, suggesting that the series was made at least partly inspired by the epic FX/Hulu Emmy winner. It actually pitched the series as “Shōgun meets Squid Game,” which sounds like it could be the next big streaming hit for Netflix in Fall 2025.
Last Samurai Standing will take place in the year 1878 in a much more modernized version of Japan, right after the end of its centuries-long feudal period. Shōgun takes place at the start of the Edo Period in the early 1600s. The series is set to depict a rare time in Japan’s history when the samurai collectively have lost most of their power.
Last Samurai Standing is based on a series of manga novels, so it could very well have more longevity as a Netflix adaptation as well. Shōgun was based on the novel of the same name by James Clavell, but the books in that series are more anthological, jumping across different periods in Asian history.
If Last Samurai Standing becomes a streaming hit like it’s poised to this Fall, then this series will almost certainly return for multiple seasons. Typically, modern series that are backed by a book series tend to have more guaranteed legs, such as Ransom Canyon, which was renewed earlier this year.
The series was developed in Japan, so there is sure to be a strong sense of historical authenticity and appreciation. The characters will compete in a battle royale-type of game of survival, much like Squid Game. Last Samurai Standing may not capture the technical brilliance of Shōgun, but judging from its premise alone, it’s set to be a wildly entertaining viewing experience soon to arrive on Netflix.
8/10
2024 – 2026-00-00
Fred Toye, Jonathan van Tulleken, Charlotte Brändström, Takeshi Fukunaga, Hiromi Kamata
Hiroyuki Sanada
Yoshii Toranaga
Cosmo Jarvis
John Blackthorne
| Play | Cover | Release Label |
Track Title Track Authors |
|---|