A “Yakuza: Like a Dragon” live-action adaptation is coming to Prime Video this year

We didn’t even know it existed, but it turns out it’s all ready to go: Prime Video just announced ‘Like a Dragon: Yakuza’, a live-action series based on the games of the same name that will arrive on the platform on October 25, 2024. It will consist of 6 episodes and will star Takeuchi Ryoma as protagonist Kiryu Kazuma.

The story will be set in two time periods, 1995 and 2005, which will allow us to see Kazuma’s childhood, the friends he made then, and the repercussions of the decisions he took, which turned him into “a fearsome and peerless Yakuza warrior with a strong sense of justice, duty, and humanity.” The first three episodes will be released on October 25, with the following three on November 1st, although we do not know if the break is related to its time skip.

The series promises to “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 director of the live-action, Take Masaharu, has expressed his excitement at the opportunity. “I have poured out my heart, soul, and the experience that I have garnered over 35 years into ‘Like a Dragon: Yakuza’,” said the director.

The series has the approval of the game creators, Ryugagotoku Studio, whose director has commented on the announcement: “Since the day I first put pen to paper on the original ‘Yakuza’ 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”.

“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”.

While waiting for a trailer, there is no better way to do so than by enjoying the games. This same year we had a delivery so good that it’s one of the main contenders to win the title of Game of the Year, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.