Concerns Raised Over Yakuza TV Show’s Impact on Cast’s Gaming Experience

The actors involved in the upcoming Amazon series, Like a Dragon: Yakuza, were instructed to avoid playing the games, causing fans to express their concerns about the show’s quality.

Despite facing challenges in the past, video game adaptations have shown significant improvement in recent years. TV shows such as The Last of Us, The Witcher, and Fallout have successfully defied the previous pattern of struggling both critically and commercially.

Despite the recent flop of the Borderlands movie, worries about video game adaptations have resurfaced. The upcoming Like a Dragon: Yakuza series, set to premiere on October 25, 2024 and currently in production by Amazon, is also causing apprehension.

During a recent interview with GamesRadar+, the actors of the upcoming Like a Dragon: Yakuza TV show disclosed that they were instructed by Amazon to refrain from playing the games in order to allow the series to develop the characters “from the ground up.”

“Although I am aware of these games and their popularity worldwide, I have never actually played them. I was interested in trying them out, but the production team wanted me to approach the character of Akira Nishikiyama with a fresh perspective, so I ultimately decided not to play them,”confessed Kenot Katu, the actor chosen to portray Nishikiyama in the TV show.

yeah this worked really well for…. Halo, Cowboy Bebop, Death Note, Fullmetal Alchemist, Dragon Ball Evolution, Ghost in the Shell, and so many others lmaowhen will these people learn??

— 🏴‍☠️Nasdorachi🏴‍☠️ (@Nasdorachi) August 12, 2024

Despite not participating in the games, Katu and the rest of the cast have extensively studied the franchise’s legacy, as he went on to mention.

I was well acquainted with the property, but I had no idea of its global reach. My team and I were determined to create our own unique adaptation, staying true to the characters’ essence and incorporating it into our own interpretation. While we aimed to draw a distinct line, our approach was rooted in genuine admiration for the franchise.

After the cast’s admission, there has been a growing concern among fans of the Like a Dragon franchise regarding the quality of the series.

A user of X shared, “This was highly effective for… Halo, Cowboy Bebop, Death Note, Fullmetal Alchemist, Dragon Ball Evolution, Ghost in the Shell, and numerous others.”

One individual referred to this decision as a “recipe for failure.”At the same time, some also questioned, “Instead of trying to piggyback off of another’s success, why not create a brand new IP if there is no intention of using the source material?”