By Out of the blue, RGG Studios and Amazon have announced a brand-new series based on the popular Sega series Like a Dragon will be debuting this October. Titled Like a Dragon: Yakuza (a clever play on the original English localization title of Yakuza), the series will consist of six episodes which debut in two segments. Set in 1995 and 2005 Tokyo, the streaming series will recount the first Like a Dragon game and follow the plight of Kiryu Kazuma as he attempts to locate some lost money while protecting the child of his former love interest.
Make the choice to take the next step. Like a Dragon: Yakuza comes to Prime Video October 24. pic.twitter.com/Pn2gKQzqlK
— RGG Studio | Like a Dragon & Yakuza Series (@RGGStudio) June 4, 2024
In an exclusive on Variety, Sega revealed that Kamer Rider Drive actor Ryoma Takeuchi will play the role of Kiryu. The series will be co-directed by Take Masaharu (100 Yen Love) and Takimoto Kengo (Kamen Teacher). Prime Video told the outlet that the series “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.”
Take stated, “I have poured out my heart, soul, and the experience that I have garnered over 35 years into Like a Dragon: Yakuza.” I’m not familiar with Take’s previous work, but I do appreciate that the cast and crew are mostly entirely Japanese. It should lend an air of authenticity to the show that will likely help it stand out from the pack. At the very least, it won’t feel like a stage production.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza will debut its first three episodes on October 25, 2024. The second three will premiere on November 1, 2024.
[Source] Variety, Twitter