Yakuza Actors Dive into Franchise for First Time

The Live-Action "Like a Dragon: Yakuza" Adaptation: Actors Reveal They Never Played the Games

The lead actors of the upcoming "Like a Dragon: Yakuza" live-action series, Ryoma Takeuchi and Kento Kaku, made a surprising revelation at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) last July: they had never played any of the games in the franchise they were adapting. This deliberate decision, according to the production team, aimed to foster a fresh, unburdened interpretation of the characters.

Takeuchi explained, via a translator, to GamesRadar+, "I know these games—everyone knows these games. But I haven’t played them. I’d like to try them, but they had to stop me because they wanted to—for the character in the script—explore from scratch."

Kaku similarly stated, "We decided we would make sure we would do our own version, relive the characters, take their spiritual elements and embody them on our own. There was a clear line we wanted to draw, but everything underneath was respect."

Fan Reactions: A Divided Front

This unconventional approach has generated a mixed response from fans. While some express concern about potential deviations from the source material, others believe the apprehension is overblown, highlighting that a successful adaptation hinges on numerous factors beyond the actors' prior gaming experience.

The omission of the iconic karaoke minigame from the show, revealed previously, further fueled fan anxieties regarding the adaptation's faithfulness. While optimism remains among some fans, others question whether the series will authentically capture the essence of the beloved game franchise.

Ella Purnell, lead actress in Prime Video's "Fallout" series, offered a contrasting perspective. While acknowledging the creative autonomy of the showrunners, she emphasized the benefits of immersing oneself in the game world, citing the 65 million viewers "Fallout" attracted in its first two weeks as evidence of this approach's potential success.

RGG Studio's Confidence in a Unique Vision

Despite the actors' lack of prior gaming experience, RGG Studio Director Masayoshi Yokoyama expressed confidence in the vision of directors Masaharu Take and Kengo Takimoto. He stated in a Sega interview at SDCC, "When I talked with Director Take, he was speaking to me as if he was the author of the original story. I realized then that we’re going to get something fun if we fully entrust him with the project."

Regarding the actors' interpretations of the characters, Yokoyama added, "to tell you the truth, their portrayal… are totally different from the original story, but that’s what’s great about it." He explicitly welcomed a fresh take, emphasizing that the games had already perfected Kiryu and that a unique interpretation was desired.

The series' success ultimately hinges on whether this fresh approach resonates with both longtime fans and newcomers alike. Only time will tell if this bold creative choice will pay off.