Prime Video is turning iconic game series Yakuza into a TV show and bringing back American Gladiators, and I can’t wait

The Eliminator and Japanese crime-fighters are coming to Prime Video

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Prime Videoplans to debut a new live-action adaptation of the hit videogame seriesYakuzaand is reportedly eyeing up anAmerican Gladiatorsreboot, giving action fans a lot to look forward to in the coming months.

The streamer saw considerable success with its videogame adaptation of Bethesda’sFalloutseries, securing a season two renewal and encouraging fans all over the world to pick up their Pip-Boys once again. Given the positive reception, it will be interesting to see if they’re able to have a similar effect with SEGA’sYakuza.

Yakuza: Like a Dragonfollows Kazuma Kiryu, a fearsome and peerless warrior who will be played by model and actor Ryoma Takeuchi and will span across two time periods in 1995 and 2005.

Takeuchi is taking the role very seriously too, saying: “I am truly honored to be given the opportunity to play the role of Kazuma Kiryu, [who is] a beloved character in the game series. I strongly felt that I was willing to put my life on the line.”

The series has put Masaharu Take in the director’s chair, who has also poured their heart and soul into the show. “I have garnered over 35 years intoLike a Dragon.The unbridled passion, talent, and countless hours of efforts from the entire team have helped bring this spectacular story to life in the form of a riveting series that will be launched this year, the year of the dragon,” Take said.

American Gladiators: what we know so far

Elsewhere, Prime Video has its eyes on theAmerican Gladiatorsgame show, with plans to reboot the competition series for the service. The move is likely off the back of  the huge critical success that the BBC saw with the reboot of UKGladiators.

According to an exclusive report byDeadline,Amazonhas been trying to ramp up its unscripted offerings on both its Prime Video and Freevee services – andAmerican Gladiatorsis a great choice to get that ball rolling.

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Lauren Anderson, Brand and Content Innovation at Amazon MGM Studios told the site: “Gladiators is an enduring, physical challenge format that continues to engage families around the world. We look forward to delighting our global Prime Video customers with both reimagined and nostalgic elements that celebrate the best of the original series.”

Deadline suggests that casting has started forAmerican Gladiators,whileYakuza: Like a Dragonreleases on Friday, October 25.

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Lucy is a long-time movie and television lover who is an approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. She has written several reviews in her time, starting with a small self-ran blog called Lucy Goes to Hollywood before moving onto bigger websites such as What’s on TV and What to Watch, with TechRadar being her most recent venture. Her interests primarily lie within horror and thriller, loving nothing more than a chilling story that keeps her thinking moments after the credits have rolled. Many of these creepy tales can be found on the streaming services she covers regularly.

When she’s not scaring herself half to death with the various shows and movies she watches, she likes to unwind by playing video games on Easy Mode and has no shame in admitting she’s terrible at them. She also quotes The Simpsons religiously and has a Blinky the Fish tattoo, solidifying her position as a complete nerd.

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