Today, SEGA announced it has partnered with Amazon Prime Video to release Like a Dragon: Yakuza, a live-action TV adaptation of the acclaimed roleplaying game series.
The show will be available globally starting on October 25. Comprised of six episodes, it will be released in two tranches: three episodes on October 25 and another three on November 1. According to the press release, this will be an original story set across two time periods: 1995 and 2005. Like a Dragon: Yakuza is directed by Masaharu Take and Kengo Takimoto, with Erik Barmack, Roberto Grande, and Joshua Long listed as executive producers.
Protagonista Kazuma Kiryu will be played by popular Japanese actor Ryoma Takeuchi, who explained:
I am truly honored to be given the opportunity to play the role of Kazuma Kiryu, a beloved character in the game series. I strongly felt that I was willing to put my life on the line. The audience will enjoy the show's human drama and conflict that unfolds around Kazuma Kiryu. Moreover, please take a look at Kiryu's intense fighting scenes with the Dragon tattoo on his back.
Masayoshi Yokoyama, Head of RYUGAGOTOKU Studio and Executive Producer, said in a statement:
Since the day I first put pen to paper on the original “Yakuza“'s script, I've never once thought about revisiting any of my work on the series. It's because I understand all too well the challenges and hardships that come with remaking a finished title. However, if I were ever sent to the past through some kind of cosmic joke, this is the experience I'd want to create. If I had to go through the wringer anyhow, I'd want to make the most engaging versions of Kamurochō and Kazuma Kiryu I could —and this show has it all. There is no question that Prime Video’s Like a Dragon: Yakuza will become another landmark release for the Like a Dragon series. 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. If anything, I'd love to watch this version alongside audiences all around the world—experiencing all of its intensity and soaking in every single second.
As a reminder, the latest entry in the game series, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, launched earlier this year to critical and commercial acclaim.
This is just the latest game franchise translated into a live action TV series. It has already happened to Resident Evil, Halo, The Last of Us, Twisted Metal, Fallout, and Sonic, with many others such as Horizon, God of War, Assassin's Creed, Life is Strange, Disco Elysium, Vampyr, and Alan Wake on the way.
About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.
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