Amazon Prime Video has announced the release dates for its upcoming series, Like a Dragon: Yakuza, based on the popular Sega video game franchise. The series will premiere in two batches: the first three episodes will be available on October 25, 2024, and the final three episodes will follow on November 1, 2024. The show will be available with subtitles and dubbed versions in up to thirty languages, making it accessible to viewers in over 240 countries worldwide.
Directed by Take Masaharu (100 Yen Love) and Takimoto Kengo (Kamen Teacher), the series stars Ryoma Takeuchi as Kazuma Kiryu, the iconic character from the video game. The plot, which spans two time periods, 1995 and 2005, explores the life and choices of Kazuma, a fearsome Yakuza warrior known for his strong sense of justice, duty, and humanity. The storyline promises to delve into his childhood friendships and the repercussions of his decisions.
The original Yakuza game series, launched in 2005 by Sega and developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, has garnered a significant fanbase and critical acclaim over the years. The latest entry in the series, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, was released in January 2024. The game series, known for its intricate plotlines and complex characters, has seen multiple spin-offs and remakes, further solidifying its popularity.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza is not the first live-action adaptation of the game. In 2010, the PSP spin-off game Kurohyō: Ryū ga Gotoku Shinshō was adapted into a Japanese TV series. However, Amazon Prime’s version, filmed in Japan and featuring a higher production budget, aims to provide a more expansive and internationally accessible take on the franchise.
The series has the official seal of approval from Masayoshi Yokoyama, the writer and producer of the original games, who serves as an executive producer. He expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “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.”
Make the choice to take the next step. Like a Dragon: Yakuza comes to Prime Video October 24. pic.twitter.com/FasWRDpBez
— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) June 4, 2024
Director Take Masaharu also shared his excitement, saying, “I have poured out my heart, soul, and the experience that I have garnered over 35 years into Like a Dragon: Yakuza.” The series is produced by executive producers Erik Barmack, Roberto Grande, and Joshua Long, with a screenplay by Sean Crouch and Nakamura Yugo, and a Japanese screenplay by Yoshida Yasuhiro and Yamada Kana.
James Farrell, head of international originals at Amazon MGM Studios, emphasized the growing global appeal of Japanese content. “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,” Farrell said.
As fans eagerly anticipate the series’ release, Like a Dragon: Yakuza promises to bring the dramatic stories and intense characters of the beloved game series to life on the small screen.
