Like a Dragon: Yakuza to Premiere on October 24A Novel Interpretation of Kazuma Kiryu
The preview showcased Japanese actor Ryoma Takeuchi as the renowned Kazuma Kiryu and Kento Kaku as the series’ main antagonist, Akira Nishikiyama. RGG Studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama observed that Takeuchi, recognized for his part in ‘Kamen Rider Drive’, and Kaku provided novel interpretations of their roles.
"Honestly, their depictions of the characters are quite unlike the original narrative," the director stated in a Sega interview at SDCC. "But that’s the appeal." Yokoyama conveyed that although the game had refined Kiryu, he valued the series' fresh perspective on both characters.
The preview only presented fleeting views of the show, but viewers received a sneak peek of the famous Coliseum in Underground Purgatory and Kiryu’s clash with Futoshi Shimano.
Loosely inspired by the first game, the series chronicles the lives of Kazuma Kiryu and his childhood friends, showing fans a side of Kiryu "that past games have not been able to explore."
Sega’s Interview with Masayoshi Yokoyama
In an interview with Sega at SDCC, Yokoyama explained that his greatest fear for the live-action adaptation was that it "would merely be a copy. Instead, I wanted people to experience Like a Dragon as if it were their first time."
"To be honest, it was so impressive that I was envious," Yokoyama continued. "We created the setting 20 years ago, but they were able to make it their own… Yet they didn’t disregard the original story."
Little is revealed in the preview, but enthusiasts will not have to wait long, as Like a Dragon: Yakuza is slated to debut exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on October 24 of this year, with the initial three episodes airing concurrently. The remaining three episodes will be released on November 1.
