Like a Dragon: Yakuza[7] is a Japanese-language[1] action-crime television series[1] directed by Masaharu Take and Kengo Takimoto and produced by Erik Barmack,[4] Roberto Grande,[4] and Joshua Long[4] for Amazon Prime, set to release in two three-episode batches on October 25 and November 1, 2024.[2]
The show is a live-action adaptation of the original 2005 game Yakuza and its 2016 remake Yakuza Kiwami[2][3] spanning six episodes.[1] It is a co-production between the American production companies Wild Sheep Content and 1212 Entertainment.[3][5][6]
Contents
- 1 Production
- 1.1 Development
- 1.2 Casting
- 1.3 Filming
- 2 References
Production[]
Development[]
The making of Like a Dragon: Yakuza, working title Yakuza, was first announced on September 24, 2020 in an exclusive Variety article[5] stating SEGA would be developing a live-action adaptation of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise with Wild Sheep Content and 1212 Entertainment.[5] Wild Sheep Content is represented by Erik Barmack,[8] while 1212 Entertainment is represented by Weintraub Tobin[9] Barmack,[4] Roberto Grande,[4] and Joshua Long[4] were set to produce the series.[4]
1212 Entertainment representatives expressed Yakuza/Like a Dragon would offer "a new playground in which to set compelling stories with complex characters in a unique environment that audiences have rarely seen before,"[10] and that former series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu's saga "has a built-in cinematic appeal – a mix of kinetic action with bursts of comedy, multiple converging storylines, and a gripping journey towards redemption.”[10]
Barmack previously served as a senior executive[9] and Vice President, Head of International Originals for over eight years at Netflix,[8] focusing on the production and distribution of international content.[8] He stated, "With our background in telling global stories, we are excited to bring this huge project to global platforms."[11]
The Variety article was followed by series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi's comments on September 27 at Tokyo Game Show 2020 confirming the project was going into development.[12] He stated he had no interest in approaching it as a transaction between production company and copyright holder,[12] and was adamant Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio would maintain creative control and were prepared to back out if the show's direction was not satisfactory.[12] The same night, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio posted an announcement of the adaptation on Twitter.[6]
At the time of the announcements, the production companies had not yet found writers for the project.[4] However, according to the project page on the official website, by February, 2022, Yugo Nakamura and Sean Crouch[2] were assigned to write the script, with two scripts having been written already.[2] The project page also stated it was being commissioned by "a global platform," describing it as an action/crime TV series spanning eight sixty-minute episodes.[2] In June, 2023, the project page was edited to remove the line about the scripts and platform.[3]
On June 4, 2024, Amazon officially announced the series in a press release revealing its title, release date, and first poster. Contrary to the project page, the press release stated there would be six episodes rather than eight, coming out three at a time on October 25 and November 1, subtitled and dubbed in over thirty languages. It also named The Fool as the production company behind the series rather than Wild Sheep Content or 1212 Entertainment.
Casting[]
On June 22, 2023, Shukan Josei PRIME reported Ryoma TakeuchiWP was cast as Kazuma Kiryu,[13] Kento KakuWP was cast as Akira Nishikiyama,[13] and Munetaka AokiWP was cast as another main story character.[13] On December 21, 2023, Tokyo Sports reported Subaru Shibutani was cast.
Filming[]
On June 22, 2023, Shukan Josei PRIME reported Like a Dragon: Yakuza had begun filming by early June.[14] Takeuchi,[14] [13]Kaku,[13] and Aoki[13] were seen on location at a famous, long-established nightclub in Roppongi, TokyoWP,[14] an entertainment district located near Kabukicho, TokyoWP, which Kamurocho is based on. A large number of staff were present at the scene.[14] The shoot was described as being pervaded by a "menacing atmosphere,"[13] as the actors "towered over everyone else, on top of being dressed to the nines in flashy suits and patterned shirts."[13]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 “Yakuza — Wild Sheep Content,” Wild Sheep Content, Wild Sheep Content, accessed June 28, 2023, https://www.wildsheepcontent.com/yakuza. (Archive)
Action/Crime - Japanese [Language] - TV Series - 1 Season/8 Eps/60min
— Yakuza — Wild Sheep Content
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 “Yakuza — Wild Sheep Content,” Wild Sheep Content, Wild Sheep Content, accessed February 17, 2022, https://www.wildsheepcontent.com/yakuza. (Archive)
A live-action adaptation from the Sega Yakuza video game franchise. Yakuza is Sega’s bestselling franchise after “Sonic The Hedgehog.”
The series follows the story of Kazuma Kiryu being released from a 10-year prison sentence after taking the fall for the murder of his family’s patriarch. After the entire Japanese underworld is pulled into the search for $100 million stolen from the vault of his former clan, Kiryu is forced back into the lawless world of the yakuza.
Two scripts have been written against this project, with a global platform commissioning the project.
WRITTEN BY: Yugo Nakamura, Sean Crouch
PRODUCERS: WSC, 1212 Entertainment— Yakuza — Wild Sheep Content
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 “Yakuza — Wild Sheep Content,” Wild Sheep Content, Wild Sheep Content, accessed June 28, 2023, https://www.wildsheepcontent.com/yakuza. (Archive)
A live-action adaptation from the Sega Yakuza video game franchise. Yakuza is Sega’s bestselling franchise after “Sonic The Hedgehog.”
The series follows the story of Kazuma Kiryu being released from a 10-year prison sentence after taking the fall for the murder of his family’s patriarch. After the entire Japanese underworld is pulled into the search for $100 million stolen from the vault of his former clan, Kiryu is forced back into the lawless world of the yakuza.
WRITTEN BY: Yugo Nakamura, Sean Crouch
PRODUCERS: WSC, 1212 Entertainment— Yakuza — Wild Sheep Content
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Dave McNary, “Sega Developing Live-Action Adaptation Based on ‘Yakuza’ Video Game With 1212, Wild Sheep (EXCLUSIVE)” Variety, September 24, 2020, https://variety.com/2020/film/news/yakuza-movie-sega-video-game-1234781210/. (Archive)
Erik Barmack, Roberto Grande and Joshua Long will produce. 1212 and Wild Sheep are searching for writers for the script.
— Sega Developing Live-Action Adaptation Based on ‘Yakuza’ Video Game With 1212, Wild Sheep (EXCLUSIVE)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Dave McNary, “Sega Developing Live-Action Adaptation Based on ‘Yakuza’ Video Game With 1212, Wild Sheep (EXCLUSIVE)” Variety, September 24, 2020, https://variety.com/2020/film/news/yakuza-movie-sega-video-game-1234781210/. (Archive)
Sega is developing a live-action adaptation from its “Yakuza” video game franchise with 1212 Entertainment and Wild Sheep Content, Variety has learned exclusively
— Sega Developing Live-Action Adaptation Based on ‘Yakuza’ Video Game With 1212, Wild Sheep (EXCLUSIVE)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Official (@ryugagotoku), “A live-action Hollywood adaptation of Yakuza/Like a Dragon is currently in development! Wild Sheep Content and 1212 Entertainment are producing it in collaboration with SEGA. Stay tuned for more information!, ” Twitter, September 27, 2020, 10:13 p.m. JST, https://twitter.com/ryugagotoku/status/1310206008233320448. (Archive)
- ↑ https://press.amazonmgmstudios.com/us/en/press-release/prime-video-to-premiere-like-a-dragon-yakuza-an-am
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 “Who We Are — Wild Sheep Content,” Wild Sheep Content, Wild Sheep Content, accessed June 28, 2023, https://www.wildsheepcontent.com/who-we-are. (Archive)
Erik has worked in television production, distribution and digital media development for 25+ years. Most recently, he founded Wild Sheep Content, a production and packaging company that has sold over twenty projects to ten global partners over its first two years of operation.
Previously, he has served in a variety of senior executive roles at Netflix focusing on the production and distribution of international content, with oversight over multi-billion dollar budgets and large, international teams, which made shows such as THE WITCHER, CASA DE PAPEL, KINGDOM, and SACRED GAMES.
In addition, Erik created the original anime initiative at Netflix. In his 8+ years at Netflix, he has also served as Vice President, Head of International Originals.
— Who We Are — Wild Sheep Content
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Dave McNary, “Sega Developing Live-Action Adaptation Based on ‘Yakuza’ Video Game With 1212, Wild Sheep (EXCLUSIVE)” Variety, September 24, 2020, https://variety.com/2020/film/news/yakuza-movie-sega-video-game-1234781210/. (Archive)
Barmack, an executive with Wild Sheep, has executive producing credits on the television series “Quicksand,” “Sacred Games” and “The Rain.” 1212 Entertainment was a production company on 2019’s “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.” 1212 is represented by Weintraub Tobin.
— Sega Developing Live-Action Adaptation Based on ‘Yakuza’ Video Game With 1212, Wild Sheep (EXCLUSIVE)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Dave McNary, “Sega Developing Live-Action Adaptation Based on ‘Yakuza’ Video Game With 1212, Wild Sheep (EXCLUSIVE)” Variety, September 24, 2020, https://variety.com/2020/film/news/yakuza-movie-sega-video-game-1234781210/. (Archive)
“Yakuza offers us a new playground in which to set compelling stories with complex characters in a unique environment that audiences have rarely seen before,” 1212 said. “The saga of Kazuma Kiryu has a built-in cinematic appeal – a mix of kinetic action with bursts of comedy, multiple converging storylines, and a gripping journey towards redemption.”
— Sega Developing Live-Action Adaptation Based on ‘Yakuza’ Video Game With 1212, Wild Sheep (EXCLUSIVE)
- ↑ Dave McNary, “Sega Developing Live-Action Adaptation Based on ‘Yakuza’ Video Game With 1212, Wild Sheep (EXCLUSIVE)” Variety, September 24, 2020, https://variety.com/2020/film/news/yakuza-movie-sega-video-game-1234781210/. (Archive)
Barmack said, “With our background in telling global stories, we are excited to bring this huge project to global platforms.”
— Sega Developing Live-Action Adaptation Based on ‘Yakuza’ Video Game With 1212, Wild Sheep (EXCLUSIVE)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 “"Ryū Ga Gotoku" Hariuddo jisshaka e. Nagoshi sōzō-kantoku ga purojekuto shidō ni tsuite komento” 『龍が如く』ハリウッド実写化へ。名越総合監督がプロジェクト始動についてコメント【TGS2020】 ["Like a Dragon," Headed to Hollywood: Series Director Nagoshi's Comments on Live-Action Adaptation Going into Development] September 27, 2022, https://www.famitsu.com/news/202009/27206657.html. (Archive)
同番組の放送終了間際に、龍が如くスタジオ総合監督の名越稔洋氏が『龍が如く』のハリウッドでの映像化について言及。一部報道で情報が出ていたプロジェクトの始動が事実であることを認めた。この取り組みについて名越氏は、映画化を希望する側と版権を持つ側とでビジネスとして協議が進められることが多いが、今回はその座組みを作る段階で「（名越氏が）納得がいかなかったら、やりたくないということを全面に押し出して話をしている。基本的には（作品に）口を出して、ちゃんとしたものを作るという前程で、覚悟してやります」とコメント。また、「その形でないと、やること自体にあまり意味はないと思う。せっかくならいいものを作りたいので」と発言している。
Just before the end of the broadcast, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio general director Toshihiro Nagoshi-shi commented on the upcoming Hollywood adaptation of Like a Dragon, confirming recent reports of the project going into development.
He stated that while it's often the case that the people looking to adapt the work and the people who hold the copyright approach the project as a business venture. But this time, during the initial talks, Nagoshi-shi made himself clear: "If we're not satisfied, we'll say we're not going through with it and we'll say it with our whole chest. Basically, we're prepared to speak up if that's what it takes to get it done right." He went on to state, "If we don't do it that way, I don't see any real point in doing it. If we're going to go to the trouble, we'd better make it count."
— "Like a Dragon," Headed to Hollywood: Series Director Nagoshi's Comments on Live-Action Adaptation Going into Development
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 “Takeuchi Ryōma, ninki geemu "Ryū Ga Gotoku" jisshaka shuen de "Densetsu no Yakuza Kiryū Kazuma" ni! "Kamen Raidaa" kara jū nen, Raidaa haiyū no sawayaka imeeji kara kyara-hen sh*ta jijō” 竹内涼真 、人気ゲーム『龍が如く』実写化主演で“伝説のヤクザ・桐生一馬”に！『仮面ライダー』から10年、ライダー俳優の爽やかイメージからキャラ変した事情 [Ryoma Takeuchi to Star as Legendary Yakuza Kazuma Kiryu from Hit Video Game Franchise "Like a Dragon!" Ten Years after "Kamen Rider": The Circ*mstances Around the Shift in Takeuchi's "Wholesome" Public Persona as a Former Rider] June 22, 2023, https://www.jprime.jp/articles/-/28349. (Archive)
「この日、竹内さんは実写版『龍が如く』の撮影だったんです。竹内さんは伝説のヤクザと呼ばれる主人公・桐生一馬の役。現場には主人公の幼なじみのヤクザ・錦山彰の役として賀来賢人さんが、ほかのメインキャストとして青木崇高さんも来ていました。全員が高身長に加えて、柄シャツに派手なスーツといういでたちでキメていて、威圧感あふれる撮影現場でしたよ」（配給会社関係者、以下同）
"On this day, Takeuchi-san was filming on location for the live-action adaptation of Like a Dragon. Takeuchi-san plays the protagonist, 'legendary yakuza' Kazuma Kiryu. Also on location: Kento Kaku, playing the protagonist's childhood friend and fellow yakuza Akira Nishikiyama, and Munetaka Aoki, playing another main story character. They all tower over everyone else, on top of being dressed to the nines in flashy suits and patterned shirts, so the scene was pervaded by a menacing atmosphere," said representatives of the distribution company.
— Ryoma Takeuchi to Star as Legendary Yakuza Kazuma Kiryu from Hit Video Game Franchise "Like a Dragon!" Ten Years after "Kamen Rider": The Circ*mstances Around the Shift in Takeuchi's "Wholesome" Public Persona as a Former Rider
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 “Takeuchi Ryōma, ninki geemu "Ryū Ga Gotoku" jisshaka shuen de "Densetsu no Yakuza Kiryū Kazuma" ni! "Kamen Raidaa" kara jū nen, Raidaa haiyū no sawayaka imeeji kara kyara-hen sh*ta jijō” 竹内涼真 、人気ゲーム『龍が如く』実写化主演で“伝説のヤクザ・桐生一馬”に！『仮面ライダー』から10年、ライダー俳優の爽やかイメージからキャラ変した事情 [Ryoma Takeuchi to Star as Legendary Yakuza Kazuma Kiryu from Hit Video Game Franchise "Like a Dragon!" Ten Years after "Kamen Rider": The Circ*mstances Around the Shift in Takeuchi's "Wholesome" Public Persona as a Former Rider] June 22, 2023, https://www.jprime.jp/articles/-/28349. (Archive)
6月上旬、日本屈指の繁華街である六本木の商業施設ビル内で撮影ロケが行われた。「有名な老舗ナイトクラブに大人数のスタッフが来ていたんですよ。竹内涼真さんが主演の作品を撮影していたようです」（ 飲食店従業員）
In the first ten days of June, filming commenced on-location inside a commercial building Japan's ritziest district, Roppongi.
"A large number of staff showed up at this famous, long-established nightclub. It looks like they're filming a new project starring Ryoma Takeuchi-san," said caterers who were at the scene.
— Ryoma Takeuchi to Star as Legendary Yakuza Kazuma Kiryu from Hit Video Game Franchise "Like a Dragon!" Ten Years after "Kamen Rider": The Circ*mstances Around the Shift in Takeuchi's "Wholesome" Public Persona as a Former Rider
