Prime Video has released the initial scenes from Like a Dragon: Yakuza and revealed its official release date, sparking excitement among fans. This series represents another ambitious project in Amazon's lineup of video game adaptations, taking advantage of the worldwide popularity of the Yakuza franchise.
Originally named Ryū ga Gotoku: Gekijōban, the first movie adaptation of the beloved action game series by Ruy Ga Gotoku Studios premiered in 2007 under the guidance of Takashi Miike. While based on Sega's famous video games, its impact was mainly limited to Japan. Nevertheless, the franchise has since gained significant traction in Western markets. Notably, developer Ryu Ga Gotoku shifted the game from its traditional action style to the turn-based JRPG genre in its recent releases, Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The latter quickly became the fastest-selling installment, selling one million copies and emerging as a strong contender for the 2024 Game of the Year award.
Given this achievement, it's no surprise that Amazon Prime Video has chosen to delve into the Japanese criminal underworld through the story of Kazuma Kiryu, expanding its catalog of game-based content that has already found success with series like Fallout. The upcoming live-action series Like a Dragon: Yakuza now has an official premiere date on Prime Video, scheduled for October 24. With this announcement, Amazon has released its first trailer, allowing fans to see Kiryu, played by Ryoma Takeuchi, as he receives his iconic dragon tattoo on his back and enters a combat arena. The trailer also offers glimpses of various locations in the fictional Tokyo district of Kamurocho, inspired by the real-life Kabukichō, the main setting for most of the game's events.
There is optimism and anticipation that Amazon has effectively translated the rich, immersive storyline of the video games into an equally captivating television series. Excitement is mounting as fans await the premiere of Like a Dragon: Yakuza in October.
