The gaming world is electric with anticipation as Jack Black gears up for his next big project. The Jumanji actor has set his sights on a new challenge that is sure to delight fans of all ages. Black recently revealed that he has chosen to star in a live-action adaptation of the beloved 20-year-old video game franchise, Yakuza.
Jack Black names the video game adaptation he wants to work in next
Jack Black is taking a bold step into the world of video game adaptations. The Kung Fu Panda star has named a nostalgic fan-favorite video game as his next live-action quest, promising to bring a blast of energy to the big screen.
During an interview with ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan to promote The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Black expressed his enthusiasm for another live-action video game adaptation. He specifically cited Sega’s iconic Yakuza series as a franchise he’d love to be a part of.
“So I’m going to throw my hat in that ring. I don’t know if there [are] any parts for me, like a portly American, but talk to me. Sega, give me a jingle,” Jack Black said.
The Yakuza series, launched by Sega in 2005 for PlayStation 2, follows Kazuma Kiryu, aka the Dragon of Dojima, as he navigates Tokyo’s underworld with a mix of intense action and offbeat humor.
Amazon Prime’s attempt at adapting Yakuza into a TV series, Like a Dragon: Yakuza, didn’t quite hit the mark, garnering mixed-to-negative reviews. Before Amazon’s series, a film called Like a Dragon (2007) adapted the first game’s story, but received a lukewarm response. Meanwhile, a Western-produced Yakuza adaptation has been in the works since 2020, awaiting the right fit.
Yakuza’s tricky blend of humor and crime has proven tough to translate to the screen, with past attempts struggling to balance the two. However, hits like The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($1.36 billion) and Minecraft Movie ($961 million) make Jack Black a compelling choice for Yakuza. Notably, fans seem to be in agreement, as Sega’s earlier poll had put him on their celebrity wishlist.
