Like a Dragon: Yakuza Live Action Series Premieres on Amazon Prime on October 25
The live-action series will star Ryoma Takeuchi as Kazuma Kiryu.
The wait is finally over for fans of the Like a Dragon franchise, previously known as Yakuza. A TV adaptation of the beloved game series has been announced, and it’s coming to Amazon Prime on October 25. The six-episode series will be released in two chunks of three episodes apiece, with Ryoma Takeuchi starring as Kazuma Kiryu.
A New Take on a Beloved Franchise
The live-action series, titled Like a Dragon: Yakuza, is an original story based on the games. It’s a collaboration between Amazon Prime, series publisher and owner Sega, and series developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. The show will star Ryoma Takeuchi as Kazuma Kiryu, with Masaharu Take and Kengo Takimoto serving as directors and Sean Crouch and Yugo Nakamura having written the story and screenplay.
“I am truly honored to be given the opportunity to play the role of Kazuma Kiryu, a beloved character and the game series,” said lead actor Ryoma Takeuchi. “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.”
Kazuma Kiryu’s intense fighting scenes will be a highlight of the show.
Bringing the Games to Life
Director Masaharu Take poured his heart and soul into the project, saying, “I have poured out my heart, soul, and the experience that I have garnered over 35 years into Like a Dragon: Yakuza. 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.”
James Farrell, Head of International Originals, Amazon MGM Studios, expressed his excitement about the project, saying, “We are thrilled and extremely excited to announce the Amazon Original action-drama Like a Dragon: Yakuza, based on the popular Japanese game series. 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.”
The live-action series will consist of six episodes, with the first three episodes premiering on Amazon Prime on October 25, and the remaining three on November 1.
The wait is almost over, and fans of the Like a Dragon franchise won’t have to wait much longer to see their beloved characters come to life on the small screen. Mark your calendars for October 25 and get ready to experience the world of Like a Dragon: Yakuza like never before.
