Did you know Amazon Prime was making a live action adaptation of the Yakuza franchise, now known as Like a Dragon? There was a Japanese movie in 2007, but this new television series will covet worldwide appeal, as it loosely plots the events of the original game across six episodes. The first part of the story will launch on 25th October, with the second part following on 1st November.
Masaharu Take, of The Naked Director fame, has directed the series, while Japanese star Ryoma Takeuchi will play protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. The story will largely unfold in Kamurocho, although it’ll span two timelines, as the well-dressed hero’s actions in the past influence the outcome of the present. You can expect some “intense fighting scenes”, as are befitting of the brand.
“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,” director Take revealed at a glitzy Tokyo press event, as reported by IGN. “I tried to show those differences in the two time periods, and the cast helped to achieve this as well.”
It sounds like Amazon Prime has taken this project seriously, and while the Like a Dragon series has been on an upward trajectory for several years now, we could see this catapulting the franchise forward even further if it’s a hit. Will you be tuning in to the show? Throw a strong right hook at the comments section below.
[source ign.com]
Comments 40
F*ck yeah!
As a fan of the first hour (yeah I played them in japanese on ps2 back in the day) I can only salute this. Hopefully it's great as well. Just last month I was thinking Yakuza was a great narrative and should lend itself to a series (new) movie.
I hope it turns out great. Can't wait to see how it is. If it's filmed in English, I might be put off, but I'll still watch it.
Okay, this is going to be great! I'll definitely watch it
Gonna have to be a long season the got in all the mini games.
The movie is insane, hopefully this is as crazy!
Please be good. Please be good. Please be good. >_<
I didn't expect this after the long radio silence, but I'm super hyped! I hope it lives up to the games that it's a good way to catch the amazing story for people who don't sit down for a 60h game.
KIRYUUUUUUU CHAAAAAAN!
And to think as recently as 2015, the whole series was this close to never getting a western release again, after Dead Souls flopped.
@haoie absolutely amazing to see the series move out of obscurity over the years.
I hope the TV series can boost games sales as much as the fallout series did.
Of course it's six episodes. TV shows now are all just 4-5 hour movies. That's just barely enough time to cover the main story, so doubt we'll get any of the side content featured. God forbid a series has some fun filler episodes.
Hopefully it's good though. Kamen Rider Drive Kiryu is cool.
These games have amazing stories. Everything is literally already written for you, so I'm really hoping that they nail this.
I'M SO EXCITED THIS GAME SERIES IS DELIGHTFUL. I really really hope Amazon can keep the quality up to the standard set by Fallout.
I hope they nail the combat. I want to see bikes and road cones!
YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OHOH this is gonna be insane!
Talk about something I never knew I needed in my life. Lets go!!
For the sake of this series I love, I hope the live-action will be successful, but on a personal level I don't have high expectations for it.
I'm tempering my expectations because the phrase "loosely based" worries me whenever one of these things is happening, and I mean c'mon, they're not going to get Yakuza right, are they? But I'm still super excited for it. Like super super excited.
Earlier this year I marathoned the entire Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise up to LAD Yakuza so with all that fresh in my brain i can safely say I am EXCITED! I have yet to get to Man Who Erased His Name, Isshin and Infinite Wealth but they are on the docket for After Dawntrail and Shadow of The Erdtree.
Prime did an amazing job with Fallout so here's hoping they get this right too.
The "naked director" director did an amazing job in that tv series. the Yakuza atmosphere was amazing in hat show. I am sure he will do an absolutely good job on our beloved game. Rest assured guys!
No Yong Yea as Kazuma,no watch!
The Dragon of Dojima rises again! Of course I will be watching!
It's either going to be wacky and insane fun or it's going to be overly serious and ignore the absurd stuff from the games
This has my attention!
I'm mildly interested, but 1 had one of the weaker stories in the franchise. Kiwami slightly redeemed it with the added Nishiki cutscenes, but I feel like a series based on 0 would have been a much better choice. KUUUZZZZEEEEEE!
That's amazing. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is a company that keeps delivering!!! And I'm more amazed they did that show and no one knew about it! Amazon is a great home for this too!! Can't miss!!
@CutchuSlow They did it in Japan.
@Radekbejbl1 I must say Yong's dub, though strange in the beginning, grew on me and I could understand why they went with his voice. However, he absolutely butchered Baka mitai
At least is made by a japanese team, lets see if it is good.
Yakuza is my third favorite franchise after Resident Evil and Metroid but I have my doubts Amazon can do it justice as a tv series. Hope I'm wrong, will definitely tune in for the first season, at least.
Now where did this come from!?
As long as Netflix doesn't touch it, I'm hopeful (although Rings of Power sucks)
@Athrum
Good. None of this terribly written western brainwash BS that's plaguing entertainment lately
Well can’t be weirder than the original movie.
I hope they don't skimp on Majima content. Kiryu-chaaaaan!
@nessisonett There's a movie?!
@VatoLoco47 Yeah, Takashi Miike directed it, from years back. Really camp and good fun.
@nessisonett Will check it out. Thanks
Was hoping for this. Was thinking about it when watching Sonic other day that Sega should do Yakuza 😎
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