HBO Max Drops ‘Shōgun’ Replacement — And It’s Coming Way Sooner Than You Think

A new historical action series is about to hit HBO Max, and it could be the platform’s answer to the recent wave of samurai hits.

Titled Song of the Samurai, the show is set to premiere on May 9, according to Warner Bros. Discovery. The series is based on the Japanese manga Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem, which ran for more than a decade and built a strong fanbase with millions of copies sold.

The story takes place in Kyoto near the end of the Edo period, a time when Japan was going through major political change.

It follows the Shinsengumi, a group of samurai tasked with protecting the ruling government. At the center of the story is Toshizo Hijikata, who starts off as a street fighter before joining the group. As he becomes part of the samurai force, he forms close bonds with figures like Isami Kondo and Soji Okita while facing violent conflicts and shifting loyalties.

The series is expected to mix real historical moments with dramatic storytelling and large-scale action scenes. Since the original manga is already finished, the creators have a full story to work with, which means the adaptation can follow a complete narrative without needing to stretch or improvise.

Behind the scenes, Masaaki Sakai is handling the script, while Kazutaka Watanabe directs the project. The production also brings together multiple companies, including Tokyo Broadcasting System, U-NEXT, and THE SEVEN, a studio known for projects like Alice in Borderland.

The cast includes Yuki Yamada, Ayano Go, and Kento Nakajima, adding recognizable names to the project.

With the growing popularity of samurai dramas, especially after shows like Shōgun found major success, expectations are high for this one. If it delivers on both action and storytelling, Song of the Samurai could easily become the next big hit in the genre.

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