It seems like the live-action adaptations of hit video games will only grow in number. Following the success of the likes of The Last of Us and Fallout, Variety reports that a Like a Dragon: Yakuza live-action series is being championed by Amazon Prime Video and SEGA.
The six-part crime-suspense-action series will be directed by Masaharu Take (100 Yen Love) and Kengo Takimoto (Kamen Teacher) and stars Ryoma Takeuchi (Kamen Rider) as the lead character, Kazuma Kiryu. In fact, it won’t be too long before fans will get to see the reformed gang member in action.
There will be two batches of three episodes each, with the first arriving on October 25, followed by the next wave on November 1.
The Like a Dragon: Yakuza story is set in 1995 and 2005 and follows Kiryu’s life. Whether that will involve some of the ridiculous stuff that is a signature of the games remains to be seen, but there will be sightings of childhood friends and “the repercussions of the decisions of a fearsome and peerless Yakuza warrior with a strong sense of justice, duty, and humanity.”
Speaking at the press conference for the reveal, Takeuchi mentioned that “You can’t play Kiryu Kazuma without getting into shape, so I knew I had to throw myself into it. This was a job not only for me but also for the costume and makeup teams. It took two and a half hours just to prepare for this shot.”
“It’s partly Kiryu Kazuma and it’s partly me. I got so close to the part that it was hard to distinguish where he ended, and I began. That included getting into shape for the part, the costume and so on. Rather than acting the part of Kiryu, I feel like he became part of the family.”
Director Take added, “Having someone with such a large physical presence as Takeuchi makes all the difference. I understood that he knows his body better than anyone, so I left it to him to get into shape. Takeuchi did all the action himself as well. It was impressive.”
Fans will be happy to know that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the developers behind the hit series, is also on board with the Like a Dragon: Yakuza adaptation.
“While the games let you experience their world through the subjective lens, this adaptation will be the ultimately objective way to enjoy the show. I have no doubt that fans of the series will be drawn to how it brings the games to life and adds new surprises. Newcomers, I’m sure, will find themselves invested simply in the gritty realism of the show,” shared Masayoshi Yokoyama, head of the studio and executive producer for the show.
Hopefully, this will be another home run for Amazon Prime Video, and truly brings the intricacies of Kiryu’s life to streaming screens everywhere.
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