Disney’s historical drama Shōgun, which takes place in mediaeval Japan in the 1600s, has shattered streaming records in just six days, with its first episode garnering 9 million views across Hulu, Disney+, and Star+.
The programme centres on Lord Yoshi Toranaga, who, in the course of a political conflict, meets English pirate John Blackthorne. Due to its epic grandeur and favourable response, the historical drama, which is based on Tokugawa Ieyasu, has drawn parallels to Games of Thrones.
The first episode also set a number of streaming milestones for FX and Disney, including the biggest global launch for a Disney scripted series and the highest-rated streaming debut for an FX programme on Hulu, besting The Bear season 2.
Alongside producer Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, actors Cosmo Jarvis plays John Blackthorne; other cast members include Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko, Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi, Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari, Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji, Tokuma Nishioka as Toda Hiromatsu, Shinnosuke Abe as Buntaro, Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado, Yuka Kouri as Kiku, and Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba no Kata.
