Roughly two decades since its inception, RGG Studios in 2024 released the eighth mainline installment for Yakuza – Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The game following its arrival this past winter sold more than 1 million copies within its first week. Rectify Gaming also scored the newest entry a 10/10 for the sheer volume & substance that oozes from the Hawaii-set magnum opus.
Beyond the games, there are plans for transmedia for the IP. Previously, it was reported that Hollywood is working on a film adaptation for the classic Sega franchise. But in a recent announcement earlier this year, Amazon Prime Video plans to release a two-part live-action TV series titled ‘Like A Dragon: Yakuza’.
In a recent interview with IGN Japan, lead star Ryoma Takeuchi shared his portrayal for Kazuma Kiryu is well-studied and he put his all into the role. What’s more,he does go on to elaborate that he did make his take on the stoic protagonist from scratch while still honoring the source material.
I was surprised to be offered this role. I knew about the game series and had played the first game at my uncle’s home. It’s a real challenge to play a character from an existing work, and I considered very carefully whether I was suited to portray Kiryu, and whether it was right for me. From the beginning, I knew I would have to give it everything I have, or I’d never pull it off.
“Rather than me becoming Kiryu, I had to create Kiryu from scratch — that’s when he and I began to link together and become one,” Takeuchi explained. “I have great respect for the feelings of the fans but when I play a character, I have to express them in my own way, so I can’t pay attention to the preconceptions of others. I researched the games for myself, to identify Kiryu’s qualities and embody them in my own way.
“Of course, I hope the fans will be happy with my portrayal — but I can say with confidence that I’ve done my best to play Kiryu. There’s no point in trying to surpass the original game; rather I wanted to show respect to the games while making something new as an artist. […] I was conscious of the passion and excitement that only young people have. It’s the kind of energy you only get on the verge of your twenties. I wanted to bring out warmer emotions when Kiryu is young, and then subtract them for the 2005 part to give contrast.”
In that same vein, we heard a similar telling from Pablo Schreiber with its portrayal of Master Chief/John-117 for the Halo Television Series. And although he did a better job in season 2, many argue that the lack of wearing the iconic Mark VI goes against how the persona is characterized in the video game. You can read the full report by heading here.
Are you behind Takeuchi’s portrayal for Kazuma Kiryu?
Like a Dragon: Yakuza airs on October 25, 2024 & November 1, 2024 on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: IGN
