I’ve never seen Takashi Miike’s Like A Dragon adaptation based on the hit game. Maybe that will change one day with the possibility of Tubi streaming, particularly now that the game franchise is back in the headlines.
Alas, shout out to Cesar Alejandro Jr. for looping me in on news that broke yesterday with 100 Yen Love and Underdog director Masaharu Take announced to direct Like a Dragon: Yakuza, for Prime Video.
More verbiage on the game and its legacy below:
Released in 2005 by SEGA, the ‘Yakuza’ game series was positioned as an entertaining game for adults, which found massive fanfare amongst its target audience. The series depicts the lives of fierce yet passionate gangsters and people living in a huge entertainment district, Kamurochō, a fictional district modeled after the violent Shinjuku ward’s Kabukichō, that acts as the backdrop of the gameplay. Like a Dragon: Yakuza showcases modern Japan and the dramatic stories of these intense characters, such as the legendary Kazuma Kiryu, that games in the past have not been able to explore. The much-loved game has captured the attention and hearts of fans not only in Japan but also internationally and will now be adapted, developed, and streamed worldwide on Prime Video.
The show will star Love You As The World Ends hit series and feature film finale actor Ryoma Takeuchi in the lead role of Kazuma Kiryu. Actor Kazuki Kitamura previosly took on the role for Miike’s 2007 flick, which is currently nowhere available to stream, my optimism notwithstanding.
At any rate, a fresh take on a crime thriller video game IP ripe for the taking as another venture into AAPI live-action entertainment is certainly worth the hype. Disney+ ixnayed American Born Chinese earlier this year and Netflix all but cancelled The Brothers Sun, and I’m losing faith in a fourth season of Warrior at this point. However, I do like that a second season of Shogun may be a thing, so not all hope is lost on the TV front. What’s one more added to the mix?
More on the show, and statements from the production:
In 1995 and 2005, spanning across two time-periods, Like a Dragon: Yakuza, an original crime-suspense-action series, follows the life, childhood friends, and repercussions of the decisions of Kazuma Kiryu, a fearsome and peerless Yakuza warrior with a strong sense of justice, duty, and humanity.
Playing the lead, Ryoma Takeuchi said, “I am truly honored to be given the opportunity to play the role of Kazuma Kiryu, a beloved character and the game series. I strongly felt that I was willing to put my life on the line. Audience will enjoy the show’s human drama and conflict that unfolds around Kazuma Kiryu. Moreover, please take a look Kiryu’s intense fighting scenes with the Dragon tattoo on his back.”
“I have poured out my heart, soul, and the experience that I have garnered over 35 years into Like a Dragon: Yakuza,” said director Masaharu Take. “The unbridled passion, talent, and countless hours of efforts from the entire team have helped bring this spectacular story to life in the form of a riveting series that will be launched this year, the year of the dragon. Please look forward to Kazuma Kiryu, played by Ryoma Takeuchi.”
“We are thrilled and extremely excited to announce the Amazon Original action-drama Like a Dragon: Yakuza, based on the popular Japanese game series,” said James Farrell, Head of International Originals, Amazon MGM Studios. “The unfettered appeal for Japanese content from within Japan and other parts of the world has been growing exponentially. While Prime Video Japan continues to offer a variety of content across genres, adapting an internationally popular game franchise that has such deep resonance and layered characters presents a unique charm and makes for an extremely compelling watch. We are committed to augmenting our content library and are confident that Like a Dragon: Yakuza will strike a chord with audiences all over the world.”
Masayoshi Yokoyama, Head of RYUGAGOTOKU Studio and Executive Producer, further added,
“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.”
Like a Dragon: Yakuza hails from production outlet The Fool, with Take joined by Kengo Takimoto at the helm. Sean Crouch and Yugo Nakamura are penning the story and script, with Yasuhiro Yoshida and Kana Yamada contributing its Japanese counterpart. Exec producing are Erik Barmack, Roberto Grande, Joshua Long.
The drama will launch on Prime Video with the first three episodes on October 25, before finishing its series syllabus out on November 1.
