Jack Black Wants To Star In New Adaptation Of 21-Year-Old Crime Video Game Series

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Jack Black wants to keep playing if another opportunity comes his way.

Jack Black has had a diverse career, starting with his music in Tenacious D and expanding into a successful film career. He’s starred in popular movies like School of Rock, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Kung Fu Panda, and Nacho Libre. More recently, he’s appeared in films based on well-known video games, including Minecraft and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Jack Black recently told ScreenRant that he’s eager to appear in a live-action video game movie, and he’s particularly interested in the Yakuza series. He jokingly suggested Sega consider him for a role, even offering to play a “portly American” character, and encouraged them to reach out.

When Anthony Black and his fellow actor Donald Glover were discussing potential storylines, Glover mentioned his children’s favorite books. He said they love “Wings of Fire” and also enjoy a series called “Saga,” which Black hadn’t read. Black jokingly warned against mentioning “Sega,” anticipating potential issues.

The Yakuza series from Sega began in 2005 with the original game on PlayStation 2. It mainly tells the story of Kazuma Kiryu, known as “the Dragon of Dojima,” as he navigates the dangerous criminal world of Tokyo. The games are known for their realistic action combined with unexpected, often funny, moments.

Amazon Prime Video previously attempted a TV series based on Yakuza, but the first season of Like a Dragon: Yakuza received mostly negative feedback. Now, with actor Cary Fukunaga expressing interest and Sega having previously polled fans on their ideal celebrity castings for future Yakuza projects, Fukunaga is being discussed as a potential fit.

Black has a proven ability to create incredibly successful films. His movie The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) earned over $1.36 billion worldwide, and A Minecraft Movie (2025) brought in over $961 million. This success mirrors the potential of franchises like Yakuza, which are popular games aiming to translate that popularity into box office hits.

Before the Amazon series, a movie called Like a Dragon attempted to adapt the story of the first game, but it received a mixed reaction. A new Yakuza adaptation, made in the West, has been in the works since 2020.

Adapting Yakuza is challenging because it blends comedy and serious crime so well. The last attempt didn’t quite get that balance right, which led to mixed reviews. But with Jack Black showing interest, there’s hope for a better adaptation – he’s proven he can handle both funny and action-packed roles, which is exactly what this project needs.

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2026-03-28 23:01