Live-Action Adaptation of Beloved Yakuza Franchise Debuts Teaser

Sega and Prime Video finally gave fans a glimpse of the upcoming Yakuza live-action adaptation. Read on to learn more about the show and what Director of RGG Studio Masayoshi Yokoyama had to say about the project.

Like a Dragon: Yakuza to Premiere on October 24A Fresh Take on Kazuma Kiryu

Sega and Amazon gave Yakuza enthusiasts their first peek at the game's live-action adaptation, Like a Dragon: Yakuza, at San Diego Comic-Con on July 26.

The teaser showcased Japanese actor Ryoma Takeuchi as the legendary Kazuma Kiryu and Kento Kaku as the series’ principal antagonist, Akira Nishikiyama. Director of RGG Studio Masayoshi Yokoyama remarked that Takeuchi, renowned for his role in the series ‘Kamen Rider Drive’, and Kaku infused their characters with novel interpretations.

"To be candid, their portrayal of the characters diverges significantly from the original narrative," the director stated in a Sega interview at SDCC. "But therein lies its brilliance." Yokoyama conveyed that while the game had refined Kiryu, he valued the show's fresh perspective on both characters.

The teaser provided fleeting glimpses of the show, but fans were granted a preview of the iconic Coliseum in Underground Purgatory and Kiryu's encounter with Futoshi Shimano.

According to the teaser’s vivid description, the live-action adaptation promises to "depict the lives of formidable yet ardent gangsters and people living in a vast entertainment district, Kamurochō, a fictional district modeled after the notorious Shinjuku ward’s Kabukichō."

Loosely inspired by the first game, the series chronicles the lives of Kazuma Kiryu and his childhood friends, showing fans a part of Kiryu "that previous games have not been able to explore."

Sega’s Interview with Masayoshi Yokoyama

Despite initial fan concerns about how the show’s gritty ambience might not do justice to the game’s lighthearted moments, Masayoshi Yokoyama assured fans that the upcoming Prime Video series will capture key aspects of the original’s spirit.

In an interview with Sega at SDCC, Yokoyama explained that his biggest fear for the live-action adaptation is that it might just be an imitation. Rather, I wanted people to experience Like a Dragon as if it was their first encounter with it.”

“To be honest, it was so good to the level I was jealous,” Yokoyama continued. “We created the setting two decades ago, but they were able to make it their own… Yet they didn’t neglect the original story.”

After watching the show, he noted that "If you’re brand-new to the game, it’s a completely new world. If you understand it, you’ll be smiling the whole time." He even teased that there will be a big surprise at the end of the first episode that made him scream and jump on his feet.

Not much is shown in the teaser, but fans will not have to wait for much longer, as Like a Dragon: Yakuza is set to premiere only on Amazon Prime Video on October 24 of this year, with the first three episodes available simultaneously. The remaining three episodes will be released on November 1.