Summary

  • Amazon announces a Yakuza: Like a Dragon TV series coming to Prime Video on October 25, 2024.
  • Like a Dragon: Yakuza is directed by Masaharu Take and features Ryoma Takeuchi in the lead role as Kazuma Kiryu.
  • The Like a Dragon: Yakuza live-action series will feature an original storyline, while also releasing in multiple languages for a wide audience.

Amazon has officially announced that a new TV series adaptation of the popular game franchise, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, will premiere on Prime Video on October 25, 2024. The upcoming adaptation brings the intense world of Yakuza: Like a Dragon to life, offering fans both old and new a fresh narrative experience.

The Yakuza games are a series of action-adventure video games that blend beat 'em up gameplay with role-playing elements. The games are renowned for their richly detailed urban environments, deep narratives, and a mix of intense combat and quirky, often humorous side activities. Beyond the main storyline, players can engage in numerous mini-games, substories, and exploration.

Split image showing Kasuga Ichiban from Like a Dragon.
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The live-action series called Like a Dragon: Yakuza, directed by Masaharu Take and featuring Ryoma Takeuchi in the lead role as Kazuma Kiryu, promises an original storyline that captures the essence of the Yakuza game series. The show will consist of six episodes, released in two batches of three episodes each, and it will be available in over 30 languages with subtitling and dubbing options, ensuring it reaches a wide audience. The cast will bring the complex characters of the Yakuza universe to the screen.

Like a Dragon: Yakuza Release Date

  • October 25, 2024.

In a recent statement, Takeuchi expressed his honor and excitement about portraying Kazuma Kiryu, emphasizing his dedication to delivering a powerful performance. The series will explore the human drama and conflicts surrounding Kiryu, including intense fighting scenes that showcase his iconic Dragon tattoo. Director Masaharu Take shared his enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the passion and effort poured into bringing the Yakuza & Like a Dragon story to life. With over 35 years of experience, Take is confident that the series will captivate audiences with its narrative and visuals.

Farrell, Head of International Originals at Amazon MGM Studios, emphasized the growing appeal of Japanese content worldwide and the unique charm of adapting a game franchise like Yakuza. Farrell believes that Like a Dragon: Yakuza will resonate with the audience while adding depth to Amazon's diverse content library. Masayoshi Yokoyama, the Executive Producer, acknowledged the unique opportunity this adaptation presents to bring the gritty realism and intricate world of Yakuza to life in a new and compelling way.

As the premiere date approaches, fans can look forward to experiencing the world of Yakuza in a different format. It remains to be seen whether the series will deliver all the intensity, drama, and excitement that fans have come to expect from the game franchise.

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Yakuza: Like A Dragon
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Released
November 10, 2020
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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RISE LIKE A DRAGON
Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking grunt of a low-ranking yakuza family in Tokyo, faces an 18-year prison sentence after taking the fall for a crime he didn't commit. Never losing faith, he loyally serves his time and returns to society to discover that no one was waiting for him on the outside, and his clan has been destroyed by the man he respected most.

Confused and alone, he embarks on a mission to discover the truth behind his family's betrayal and take his life back, becoming an unlikely hero for the city’s outcasts on his journey.

LEVEL UP FROM UNDERDOG TO DRAGON IN DYNAMIC RPG COMBAT: Experience dynamic RPG combat like none other. Switch between 19 unique Jobs ranging from Bodyguard to Musician, and use the battlefield your weapon. Take up bats, umbrellas, bikes, street signs, and everything else at your disposal to crack some skulls!

ENTER THE UNDERWORLD PLAYGROUND: When you're not busy bashing heads, relax by hitting up the local arcade for some classic SEGA games, compete with locals in a no holds barred go-kart race around Yokohama, complete 50 unique substories, or just take in the scenery of a modern-day Japanese city. There’s always something new around the corner.

Developer(s)
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher(s)
Sega
Franchise
Yakuza
Genre(s)
JRPG