Amazon has announced a live-action series titled “Like a Dragon: Yakuza” that will be available on Prime Video. The series is an adaptation of the famous SEGA game franchise “Yakuza Like a Dragon.” Directed by Masaharu Takeo, best known for “The Naked Director,” the series will have six episodes.
Contents
Like a Dragon: Yakuza Series Storyline
Yakuza, the first game in the series, was a loose inspiration for the original screenplay that served as the basis for the series. Primarily taking place in the Kamurocho entertainment district, directly after the games, it centers on Kiryu and his trio of boyhood friends.
The story focuses on the lives, childhood friends, and decisions made by Kiryu, a formidable and unbeatable Yakuza fighter with a strong sense of justice, responsibility, and humanity. It takes place in two different time periods – 1995 and 2005.
Talking about the main character and story, Director Take said, “In 1995, the protagonist is still young and he makes a lot of mistakes, and these lead to him spending a decade in prison and the consequences he faces when he gets out in 2005.”
Like a Dragon: Yakuza Series Main Protagonist
The main character of the series Kazuma Kiryu will be played by the extremely successful Japanese playwright and stage actor Ryoma Takeuchi.
The press announcement for the series characterizes protagonist Kiryu as a “fearsome and peerless Yakuza warrior with a strong sense of justice, duty, and humanity,” and the plot revolves around the consequences of his decisions in the two time periods.
Takeuchi made a joke referencing the series’ famously wild action and said the episode would feature “intense fight scenes”. Takeuchi stated, “You can’t play Kiryu Kazuma without getting in shape, so I knew I had to throw myself into it,” referring to the tattoos on his back and the process of shaping his character. He further added, “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.”
Like a Dragon: Yakuza Series Release Date
“Like a Dragon: Yakuza” will be released in two parts on October 25 and November 1, 2024, and will be available on Amazon Prime in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
According to Prime Video, the series “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.”
Following the success of previous video game adaptations such as Fallout and the upcoming Tomb Raider series, the Like a Dragon: Yakuza series is predicted to be a hit. Moreover, the series is poised to add another accolade to its growing collection of notable adaptations on Amazon Prime Video with its distinctive charm and immersive viewing experiences.
For constant updates, keep following Gamevro.
